1. Plural of althaea; plants of the mallow family, especially marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), valued historically for medicinal and culinary uses.
Usage: botanical term; often used in historical or herbal contexts

Examples

• The herbalist cultivated several althaeas in her garden for their soothing properties.
• Medieval apothecaries relied on althaeas to prepare remedies for coughs and digestive complaints.
• Althaeas were among the most commonly used plants in traditional European medicine.
• The roots of althaeas contain mucilage that was extracted for medicinal preparations.