August 3, 2024, Saturday—Apricot Mallow, desert flower of tender mercies. I like the ring of that. This apricot-colored desert flower stole my heart on my trip to Sedona this spring. The flower exudes a very tender feeling. The color is soft, yet it lights up the desert floor gently and powerfully at the same time. My experience matches the symbolic aspects of this wildflower which helps us to feel more beautiful, and be more warm-hearted and sweet-tempered with ourselves. Awww…
Other names for Apricot Mallow
There are nine species of Desert Mallow in California and 16 in Arizona. Other names are Desert Globemallow, Apricot Globe-mallow, Desert Mallow, Globe Mallow, Apricot Mallow. Desert Mallow belongs to the Malvaceae family, along with Hollyhock, Hibiscus, Okra and Cotton. How fascinating is this? I’m newly obsessed with hollyhocks as well and recently painted Hollyhock Rock. Both have flowers blooming upward along a single stalk, from bottom to top.
Edible!
My sighting was in the middle of nowhere in or near the Mohave Desert. We pulled over because of this flower! There is compelling evidence right here on the internet (!!) that it grows all over the Mohave and Sonoran deserts in Utah, California, Nevada and Baja Mexico. AND is considered good munchies by bighorn sheep and goats. While this may be true, I’m not sure humans consider them good munchies, but they are indeed edible. If only I had known better! I would’ve taken a nibble.
Including medicinal leaves and stems
Apricot Mallow desert flower of tender mercies. Not just symbolically either. For example, circling back to it being related to okra, check this out from Savor the Southwest, “…globe mallow also contains mucopolysacharride starches (mucilage), the “slimy” stuff of okra. This slippery mucilage can provide a soothing coating to various inflammations and irritations. A cold infusion of macerated stems and leaves releases this mucilage and has been used as a poultice to soothe irritated skin. The cold infusion can also be drunk to stimulate white cell activity.” Wow!!
Enjoy the petite painting, Apricot Mallow. It’s not on the website yet, nevertheless, here is a snap from my iPhone. As yooshe, I invite you to browse my originals gallery, browse prints, and sign up for my monthly newsletter. Thanks for reading! Wow, not enough transition words… Well, in that case! Without a doubt! And furthermore!
