The common mallow (Malva sylvestris L.) is a biennial or perennial herbaceous plant from the mallow family (Malvaceae). It grows in a wide range of habitats around the world and is found throughout Slovenia. In the past, people mostly picked the common mallow in the wild. It was cultivated only on a small scale in herb gardens and used for medicinal purposes. Today, it is still grown in herb gardens and as an ornamental plant on a limited scale, while larger areas are cultivated to supply the needs of pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. All parts of the plant are useful. For centuries, the common mallow has been used both as food and as a medicinal plant for treating people and animals. The leaves, flowers, young stems, and fruits are all edible. The leaves, and sometimes the young stems, are most commonly used in cooking. They can be eaten fresh in salads or cooked in soups and other dishes. The flowers are often added to drinks or used to decorate dishes, while the fruits are mainly eaten as a snack or used as a spice. The common mallow contains several nutrients that are very important for people. It is a better source of vitamins C and E, provitamin A, and dietary fibre than the common dandelion, which is an esteemed wild edible plant. Besides the leaves, the flowers are also used for medicinal purposes. Its medicinal use is primarily attributed to mucilage, for which common mallow is best known, and to phenolic compounds. The common mallow is a very versatile plant. It is used in cosmetic products, as a natural dye plant, for producing plant fibres, and in plant protection. It also shows allelopathic and herbicidal effects and has potential applications in nature conservation. Owing to its wide range of properties and possible applications for several different purposes, it is useful in many different fields and industries.
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