Plant
Marshmallow root
Picture to come.
The thick, pale root of the marsh mallow, a tall, softly downy plant of salt marshes and damp ground near the coast. When soaked, the root becomes slimy. Since classical times it was used in herbal medicine to soothe irritated throats and mouths, for example as a gargle; these were beliefs and practices of the time, not proven cures. The sweet called marshmallow is a far later invention.
Caveats (confidence: medium)
Specific 12th-century English use not directly attested; based on the general herbal tradition.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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