Billy Button nutlets - an anti-aphrodisiac!

This is the seed pod of the common mallow and Billy Button is one of the folk names. In medieval days, when there was widespread belief in the efficacy of love-potions, mallow had a reputations as an anti-aphrodisiac, promoting calm, sober conduct. Cicero complained that the dish gave him indigestion, the poet Martial used to to dispel hangovers after orgies, and Pliny found that mallow sap mixed with water would give him day-long protection against aches and pains. More recently, mallow leaves were used to draw out wasp stings, and the gummy sap was made into poultices and soothing ointment. I make no comment except to say it seeds freely around the allotments and I fight to keep it at bay!