Marsh Mallow

(c) D. Rich

Dave Rich wrote 'On Friday, while driving along the marsh road near Wernffrwd, I came across a large number of flowering Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis) close to the road. On Gower, the plant is found on the upper parts of the salt marsh between Wernffrwd & Llanrhidian and at Cwm Ivy. It is a soft, hairy, greyish perennial with lovely lilac-pink flowers. In the past, it was used to treat mouth ulcers, throat infections & gastric ulcers.In more modern times, it was the original source of marsh mallow in sweets.'

Now is really good time to see this scarce plant in flower and as can be see from the Glamorgan distribution map, it also occurs up the Loughor almost as far as Pontarddulais.