Any of various plants of the family Malvaceae found in damp places, including marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, musk mallow, Malva moschata, and rose mallow (genus Hibiscus).
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Turner (d. 1568), naturalist and religious controversialist.
Definition of water mallow in US English:
water mallow
noun
Any of various plants of the family Malvaceae found in damp places, including marshmallow, Althaea officinalis, musk mallow, Malva moschata, and rose mallow (genus Hibiscus).
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Turner (d. 1568), naturalist and religious controversialist.