Althaea officinalis Marsh Mallow   Europe Perennial of damp, saline places.   Pink flower is subtended by an epicalyx which appears as a second set of sepals.   Covered with velvety, whitish hairs (pubescence) which when viewed under magnification appear star-shaped (stellate).       The specific epithet, officinalis, indicates that this plant was once used as a medicine. It was also the source of the original marshmallows.

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