hollyhock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden hollyhock
• hollyhock
• rose mallow
• Black Hollyhock
• Common hollyhock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Althaea rosea
• Alcea rosea var. sinensis
• Althaea rosea var. sinensis
• Alcea pallida subsp. cretica
• Alcea biennis subsp. cretica
• Alcea rosea var. alta
• Alcea rosea var. atra
• Alcea rosea var. tinctoria
• Althaea meonantha
• Malva hortensus
• Malva florida
• Alcea annua
• Alcea microchiton
• Alcea cretica
• Althaea sinensis
• Althaea microchiton
• Althaea mexicana
• Althaea flexuosa
• Althaea caribaea
• Althaea chinensis
• Althaea coromandeliana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Alcea rosea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Malvaceae and is categorized under the genus Alcea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in the landscapes of Austria. It also inhabits the territories of both Czechia and Slovakia within this same central region. Finally, its range extends through Germany and Hungary to complete its geographical footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alcea rosea is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, though it exhibits a significant capacity for altitudinal adaptation. It thrives within a specific elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 1500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational distribution centered around 2620 m AMSL. This ability to inhabit diverse vertical gradients suggests a robust ecological plasticity within its preferred lowland and montane habitats.

Elevational range mean:

2620 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Alcea rosea is characterized by its classification as a perennial, although its development can exhibit variable growth patterns including biennial or annual phases depending on environmental conditions and seed viability. Functionally, the plant is categorized as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by the remains of previous seasons' leaf bases or accumulated organic matter. This hemicryptophytic nature allows the species to endure seasonal changes by maintaining its vital reproductive structures close to the ground level, ensuring its survival and ability to re-emerge during favorable growing periods.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alcea rosea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. The plant is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning neither as an epiphyte nor as a parasite. It exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, meaning it does not require external structures to climb like a vine or liana. The shoots are oriented in an erect manner, supporting a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 3 m, with a mean height of approximately 1.785 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.785 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alcea rosea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure is defined by large, elliptic-shaped leaves that play a critical role in energy acquisition and gas exchange. These leaves exhibit a mean surface area of 82.49 cm² and typically maintain a consistent width of 11 cm, ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 11 cm. The leaf length varies, reaching a maximum of 27 cm, contributing to its overall morphological profile. Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 136.6 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between its leaf area and dry mass, which serves as an indicator of its resource investment and photosynthetic capacity.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

27 cm

Leaf size mean:

82.49 cm²

Leaf width mean:

11 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

136.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alcea rosea is characterized by a distinct flowering period that typically begins in July and continues through October. During this cycle, the plant produces pink flowers that vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops brown fruits that contain seeds with a highly specific mass profile; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.0089495 g, with individual seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.0094 g to a maximum of 0.0096 g. The dispersal of these seeds is classified as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in their movement and distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

3 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

brown

Seed mass max:

0.0096 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0089495 g

Seed mass min:

0.0094 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alcea rosea has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root, seed.

Flower

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Scientific reports

Root

1. Indian journal of pharmacology

Seed

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Chemicals

Alcea rosea has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ERK, Flavonoid, Hydroxycinnamic acid, IL-6, JNK.

ERK

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoid

1. Frontiers in plant science

Hydroxycinnamic acid

1. Frontiers in plant science

IL-6

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

JNK

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

NO

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenolic acid

1. Frontiers in plant science

apigenin

1. Natural product research

dihydrokaempferol

1. Natural product research

fatty acid esters

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Alcea rosea has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Diuretic, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Demulcent.

Diuretic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Indian journal of pharmacology

Analgesic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Anticancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Demulcent

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Emollient

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Alcea rosea has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, analgesic, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations