marsh mallow

noun

1. an Old World mallow, Althaea officinalis, having pink flowers, found in marshy places.

2. the rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos.

marsh mallow

noun

1. a malvaceous plant, Althaea officinalis, that grows in salt marshes and has pale pink flowers. The roots yield a mucilage formerly used to make marshmallows

2. another name for rose mallow

Word History and Origins

Origin of marsh mallow¹

before 1000; Middle English marshmalue, Old English merscmealwe. See marsh, mallow