Mallow

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mallow \Mal"low\, Mallows \Mal"lows\, n. [OE. malwe, AS. mealwe,
     fr. L. malva, akin to Gr. mala`chh; cf. mala`ssein to soften,
     malako`s soft. Named either from its softening or relaxing
     properties, or from its soft downy leaves. Cf. {Mauve},
     {Malachite}.] (Bot.)
     A genus of plants ({Malva}) having mucilaginous qualities.


     See {Malvaceous}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The flowers of the common mallow ({Malva sylvestris})
           are used in medicine. The dwarf mallow ({Malva
           rotundifolia}) is a common weed, and its flattened,
           dick-shaped fruits are called cheeses by children. Tree
           mallow ({Malva Mauritiana} and {Lavatera arborea}),
           musk mallow ({Malva moschata}), rose mallow or
           hollyhock, and curled mallow ({Malva crispa}), are less
           commonly seen.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Indian mallow}. See {Abutilon}.
  
     {Jew's mallow}, a plant ({Corchorus olitorius}) used as a pot
        herb by the Jews of Egypt and Syria.
  
     {Marsh mallow}. See under {Marsh}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mallow
       n : any of various plants of the family Malvaceae