ウスベニアオイは欧州で古代から伝わる身近な薬草です。花は淡い赤紫色で、花弁が深く凹んで５枚。花言葉は「穏やか」「柔軟な心」です。
Common Mallow is a familiar medicinal herb that has been handed down from ancient times in Europe. The flowers are pale purple and have 5 deeply recessed petals. Flower language is “calm” and “flexible heart”.
【仮名】ウスベニアオイ, ゼニアオイ, コモンマロウ, ブルーマロウ
【和名】薄紅葵, 銭葵
【英名】Common Mallow, Blue Mallow
【学名】Malva sylvestris
【誕生】08/ 14
【開花】05, 06, 07月
【花色】Pink, Purple, Violet
ウスベニアオイ
ウスベニアオイの概要
ウスベニアオイはアオイ科ゼニアオイ属の多年草。原産地は地中海沿岸で、欧州では古代ギリシャ、ローマ時代から伝わる身近な薬草です。日本へは江戸時代に観賞用で渡来。暑さにも寒さにも強く、こぼれ種でも殖えるため、各地に拡がりました。花言葉は「穏やか」「柔軟な心」。
ウスベニアオイの名前
ウスベニアオイの名前の由来は薄紅色の花が咲く葵だから。英名のマロウはラテン語の属名マルバに由来します。マルバは「柔らかくする」という意味。根に含まれる粘液質に、硬く締まったものを軟らかく緩める効果があるからです。種小名シルベストリスは「野生の」という意味。
ウスベニアオイの姿形
ウスベニアオイの茎は疎らに毛が生えます。葉は柄が長く、互生。掌状で深く５～７裂し、縁に鋸歯が入ります。花は淡い赤紫色で、花弁が深く凹んで５枚。同花受粉を避けるため、まず、雄しべ５本が花糸を伸ばし、花粉を送り出してから、雌しべが花柱を伸ばし、10～12裂に展開。
ウスベニアオイの種類
ウスベニアオイの品種「ゼブリナ」は花に赤紫色の筋が入り、「ブルーフォンテン」は花が青紫色です。変種「銭葵」は茎に毛がなく、葉が円形で浅く５～７裂し、花弁が浅く凹んで濃い赤紫色。近縁「麝香葵」は葉に芳香があり、花弁が白色と桃色の品種「アルバ」などがあります。
ウスベニアオイの利用
ウスベニアオイは根に含まれる粘液質が喉の痛みや炎症を和らげ、葉に含まれるタンニンや花に含まれるアントシアニンが抗酸化作用で生活習慣病などを防ぎます。お茶は淹れたての青色が時間とともに紫色になり、レモン果汁を垂らすと桃色に。「夜明けの薬草茶」とも呼ばれます。
Common Mallow
Overview of Common Mallow
Common Mallow is a perennial plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. The place of origin is the Mediterranean coast, and in Europe it is a familiar medicinal herb that has been handed down since the ancient Greek and Roman times. It was brought to Japan for ornamental purposes in the Edo period. It is resistant to heat and cold, and propagates by self-sown seedling, so it has spread to various places. The flower language is “calm” and “flexible heart”.
Name of Common Mallow
The Japanese name of Common Mallow means the mallow with pale pink flowers. The English name Mallow comes from the Latin genus Malva. Malva means “to soften”. This is because the mucilage contained in the roots has the effect of softening and loosening hardened. The species name sylvestris means “wild”.
Shape of Common Mallow
Common Mallow stems are sparsely hairy. The leaves are long-stalked and alternate. Palmate, deeply 5-7 cleft, with serrated edges. The flowers are pale purple and have 5 deeply recessed petals. To avoid co-pollination, first five stamens extend filaments and pollen is sent out, and then pistils extend style and develop into 10 to 12 lobes.
Types of Common Mallow
Common Mallow cultivar “Zebrina” has purple streaks in the flowers, and “Blue Fountain” has violet flowers. The variety “Mauritiana” has hairless stems, round leaves with shallow 5-7 lobes, and deep purple petals with shallow depressions. The closely related “Malva moschata” has fragrant leaves, and there is a cultivar “Alba” with white and pink petals.
Use of Common Mallow
The mucus contained in the roots of Common Mallow soothes sore throats and inflammations, while the tannins contained in the leaves and the anthocyanins contained in the flowers act as antioxidants to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. The tea is blue when freshly brewed, turns purple over time, and turns pink when lemon juice is added. So it is also called “Dawn herbal tea”.
