Alcea
- This article is about the flower. For the J. League team, see Mito Hollyhock
| Hollyhock | |
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| Alcea setosa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Alcea |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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Alcea (Ál-ce-a), commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Most species are native to southwest and central Asia, although a few are native to southeast Europe or Egypt. They are biennial or short-lived perennial plants growing to 3.5 m (11.48 ft) tall, with broad, rounded, palmately lobed leaves and numerous flowers (pink or yellow in the wild species) on the erect central stem.
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[edit] Species
There are about 60 species of Alcea, including:
- Alcea biennis
- Alcea heldreichii
- Alcea lavateriflora
- Alcea pallida
- Alcea rosea—Common Hollyhock
- Alcea rugosa
- Alcea setosa—Bristly Hollyhock
- Alcea striata
- Alcea sulphurea
[edit] Uses
Hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants, cultivars selected, particularly from A. rosea. The flowers have been selected for variations in colour, with dark purple, red and white-flowered plants available in addition to the colours found in wild plants.
Hollyhocks are very drought resistant, and do well in full sun locations that might be too hot or dry for other plants. They produce large, flat coin-shaped seeds (1/2" diameter) that seem to grow easily wherever they drop. While an individual plant might only live for only a few years, within that time it will produce many seeds to generate further plants. They have very long taproots which make transplanting difficult.
[edit] Pests and Diseases
Alcea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix quadrigemina and the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui).
Mallow flea beetles (Podagrica fuscicornis)are a pest, disfiguring the leaves with tiny holes. Various species of cutworms, aphids and capsid bugs can also use the plant as a food source in hotter and dryer conditions.[1]
They are also susceptible to a fungus called 'hollyhock rust', (Puccinia malvacearum), it can be disfiguring to plants and hard to control. [2]
[edit] Culture
Remains of hollyhocks have been found in a Neanderthal burial site at Shanidar.[citation needed]
[edit] Japan
The flower, known in Japan as aoi (葵), was incorporated into the official seal (mon) of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, and through this influence has maintained importance in modern Japanese culture. For example, it has become the name and symbol of a professional soccer club located in a city formerly led by the Tokugawa family. The Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock festival) is one of the three main festivals of the city of Kyoto. In addition, in the manga series Lone Wolf and Cub the seal is worn by Ogami Itto, the protagonist of the series, whilst he is in service to the shogun.[citation needed]
[edit] Gallery
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A pink flowered hollyhock
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A hollyhock flower
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Alcea setosa
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[edit] References
- ^ The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Ed. Christopher Brickell, Dorling Kindersly, London. 1996, ISBN 0751304360. p93
- ^ [1] Royal Horticultural Society.
[edit] External links
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Wikispecies has information related to: Alcea |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alcea rosea |
