![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Althaea_officinalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-008.jpg/163px-Althaea_officinalis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-008.jpg)
Althaea officinalis, or marsh-mallow, is a perennial species indigenous to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, which is used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant. A confection made from the root since ancient Egyptian times evolved into today's marshmallow treat, but most modern marshmallow treats no longer contain any marsh-mallow root.
== Description ==
The stems, which die down in the autumn, typically grow 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m), but can reach 6.5 feet (2.0 m) and put out only a few lateral branches. The leaves are shortly petioled, roundish, ovate-cordate, 2 to 3 in (51 to 76 mm...