Editing Alcea

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae}}
{{Redirect|Hollyhock|the streambank wild hollyhock, a related species in western North America|Iliamna rivularis{{!}}''Iliamna rivularis''|other uses|Hollyhock (disambiguation)}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Alcea_setosa.jpg
|image_caption = ''[[Alcea setosa]]''
|taxon = Alcea
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
|display_parents = 2
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = See text
}}

'''''Alcea''''' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family [[Malvaceae]], commonly known as the '''hollyhocks'''.<ref name=foc>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=100963 |title=''Alcea'' |author=Tang, Y. |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, and Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Massachusetts |access-date=24 July 2012|display-authors=etal}}</ref> They are native to Asia and Europe.<ref name=foc/> The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the [[Iliamna rivularis|streambank wild hollyhock]], belongs to a different genus.

==Description==
Hollyhocks are annual, [[Biennial plant|biennial]], or [[perennial plant]]s usually taking an erect, unbranched form. The herbage usually has a coating of star-shaped hairs. The leaf blades are often lobed or toothed, and are borne on long [[petiole (botany)|petioles]]. The flowers may be solitary or arranged in [[Fascicle (botany)|fascicles]] or [[raceme]]s. The notched petals are usually over three centimeters wide and may be pink, white, purple, or yellow. The fruit is a [[schizocarp]], a dry disc divided into over 15 sections that contain seeds.<ref name=foc/>

==Species==
The following species are accepted:<ref name="25775-1" >{{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:25775-1 |title=''Alcea'' L. |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref>
{{div col}}
*''[[Alcea abchazica]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea acaulis]]'' <small>(Cav.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea afghanica]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea antoninae]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea apterocarpa]]'' <small>(Fenzl) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea arbelensis]]'' <small>Boiss. & Hausskn.</small>
*''[[Alcea assadii]]'' <small>Pakravan</small>
*''[[Alcea aucheri]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea baldshuanica]]'' <small>(Bornm.) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea biennis]]'' <small>Winterl</small>
*''[[Alcea calvertii]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea chrysantha]]'' <small>(Sam.) Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea damascena]]'' <small>(Mouterde) Mouterde</small>
*''[[Alcea denudata]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea digitata]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea dissecta]]'' <small>(Baker f.) Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea djahromi]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
*''[[Alcea excubita]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea fasciculiflora]]'' <small>Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea ficifolia]]'' <small>L.</small> – Antwerp hollyhock
*''[[Alcea flavovirens]]'' <small>(Boiss. & Buhse) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea freyniana]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea froloviana]]'' <small>(Litv.) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea galilaea]]'' <small>Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea ghahremanii]]'' <small>Pakravan & Assadi</small>
*''[[Alcea gorganica]]'' <small>(Rech.f., Aellen & Esfand.) Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea heldreichii]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea hohenackeri]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea hyrcana]]'' <small>Grossh.</small>
*''[[Alcea ilamica]]'' <small>Pakravan</small>
*''[[Alcea iranshahrii]]'' <small>Pakravan, Ghahr. & Assadi</small>
*''[[Alcea karakalensis]]'' <small>Freyn</small>
*''[[Alcea karsiana]]'' <small>(Bordz.) Litv.</small>
*''[[Alcea koelzii]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea kopetdaghensis]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea kuhsanguia]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
*''[[Alcea kurdica]]'' <small>(Schltdl.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea kusjariensis]]'' <small>(Iljin ex Grossh.) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea lasiocalycina]]'' <small>Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea lavateriflora]]'' <small>(DC.) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea lenkoranica]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea litvinovii]]'' <small>(Iljin) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea loftusii]]'' <small>(Baker f.) Zohary</small>
*''[[Alcea longipedicellata]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea mazandaranica]]'' <small>Pakravan & Ghahr.</small>
*''[[Alcea mosulensis]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea mozaffarianii]]'' <small>Ghahr. & Pakravan & Assadi</small>
*''[[Alcea nikitinii]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea nudiflora]]'' <small>(Lindl.) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea peduncularis]]'' <small>Boiss. & Hausskn.</small>
*''[[Alcea pisidica]]'' <small>Hub.-Mor.</small>
*''[[Alcea popovii]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea rechingeri]]'' <small>(Zohary) I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea remotiflora]]'' <small>(Boiss. & Heldr.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea rhyticarpa]]'' <small>(Trautv.) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea rosea]]'' <small>L.</small> – common hollyhock
*''[[Alcea rosulata]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea rufescens]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Boiss.</small>
*''[[Alcea rugosa]]'' <small>Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea scabridula]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea schirazana]]'' <small>Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea semnanica]]'' <small>Pakravan</small>
*''[[Alcea setosa]]'' <small>(Boiss.) Alef.</small> – bristly hollyhock
*''[[Alcea sophiae]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea sosnovskyi]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea sotudehi]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
*''[[Alcea striata]]'' <small>(DC.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea sulphurea]]'' <small>(Boiss. & Hohen.) Alef.</small>
*''[[Alcea sycophylla]]'' <small>Iljin & V.V.Nikitin</small>
*''[[Alcea tabrisiana]]'' <small>(Boiss. & Buhse) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea talassica]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea tarica]]'' <small>Pakravan & Ghahr.</small>
*''[[Alcea teheranica]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
*''[[Alcea tholozanii]]'' <small>Stapf</small>
*''[[Alcea transcaucasica]]'' <small>(Iljin) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea turcomanica]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea turkeviczii]]'' <small>Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea vameghii]]'' <small>Parsa</small>
*''[[Alcea wilhelminae]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
*''[[Alcea woronowii]]'' <small>(Iljin ex Grossh.) Iljin</small>
*''[[Alcea xanthochlora]]'' <small>I.Riedl</small>
{{div col end}}
==Uses==
Hollyhocks are popular [[garden]] [[ornamental plant]]s. They are easily grown from seed. Breeds with red flowers attract [[hummingbird]]s and [[butterfly|butterflies]]. [[Cultivar]]s have been bred, especially from ''A. rosea''. They include the [[double-flowered]] 'Chater's Double', the [[raspberry (color)|raspberry-colored]] 'Creme de Cassis', and 'The Watchman', which has dark, nearly black, [[maroon]] flowers.<ref name=bhg>[http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/hollyhock/ Hollyhock: ''A. rosea''.] ''Better Homes and Gardens''.</ref>

The stems of hollyhocks can be used as firewood, and the roots have been used medicinally.<ref name=foc/><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Aydin | first1 = S. | last2 = Öztürk | first2 = Y. | last3 = Başer | first3 = K. H. C. | last4 = Kirimer | first4 = N. | last5 = Kurtar-Öztürk | first5 = N. | title = Effects of ''Alcea pallida'' L. (A.) and ''Tilia argentea'' Desf. Ex DC infusions on swimming performance in mice | doi = 10.1002/ptr.2650060411 | journal = Phytotherapy Research | volume = 6 | issue = 4 | pages = 219–220| year = 1992 }}</ref>

==Pests and diseases==
[[File:Hollyhock Weevil (2713629786).jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Rhopalapion longirostre|Hollyhock [[weevil]] (''Rhopalapion longirostre'')]]

''Alcea'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Bucculatrix quadrigemina]]'' and ''[[Vanessa cardui]]'', the painted lady.

The [[podagrica fuscicornis|mallow flea beetle]] (''Podagrica fuscicornis'') is a pest that makes tiny holes in the leaves. [[Cutworm]]s, [[aphid]]s, and [[Miridae|capsid bugs]] use the plant as a food source in hotter and drier conditions.<ref>Brickell, C., Ed. ''The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants''. Dorling Kindersly, London. 1996. pg. 93. {{ISBN|0-7513-0436-0}}</ref> A number of [[weevil]]s use ''A. rosea'' as their host plant, including ''[[Rhopalapion longirostre]]'', ''[[Alocentron curvirostre]]'', and ''[[Aspidapion validum]]''.<ref name=weevil>Wilhelm, G., et al. (2011). [http://homepage.univie.ac.at/hans.leo.nemeschkal/papers/RhopSexdim.pdf Sexual dimorphism in head structures of the weevil ''Rhopalapion longirostre'' (Olivier 1807) (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea): a response to ecological demands of egg deposition.] ''Biological Journal of the Linnean Society'' 104(3) 642-60.</ref>

The plants are also susceptible to the pathogenic [[fungus]] ''[[Puccinia malvacearum]]'', the hollyhock rust.<ref>[http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=564 Hollyhock rust.] Royal Horticultural Society.</ref>

==Culture==
The [[Aoi Matsuri]] (Hollyhock Festival) is one of the three main festivals of the city of [[Kyoto]].
During the [[Victorian era]], the hollyhock symbolized both ambition and fecundity in the [[language of flowers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.languageofflowers.com/flowermeaning.htm|title=Language of Flowers - Flower Meanings, Flower Sentiments|website=www.languageofflowers.com|access-date=2016-11-26}}</ref>

The [[National Plant Collection|UK National Collection]] of hollyhocks is held by Jonathan Sheppard in Lincolnshire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/how-can-you-help/sponsor-the-national-plant-collections/sponsor-the-national-plant-collections-follow-alcea-hollyhocks/|title=Join Plant Heritage &#124; Conserving the diversity of garden plants|website=www.plantheritage.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/lifestyle/cupcake-and-fizz/|title=Cupcakes and fizz!|website=Lincolnshire Life}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Aoix2.jpg|Man carrying a hollyhock float during the [[Aoi Matsuri]] procession
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" >
File:Hollyhock - Kolkata 2011-02-25 1734.JPG|''Alcea'' sp.
File:Alcea-setosa--Chotmit--Zachi-Evenor.jpg|''Alcea setosa''
File:Alcea rosea3 ies.jpg|[[Sepal]]s
File:Malva negra - Alcea rosea var. nigra - Hollyhock (7448054488).jpg|''Alcea rosea'' 'Nigra'
File:Alcea Rosea Hollyhocks flower plant.jpg|''Alcea'' sp.
File:Alcea Rosea Hollyhocks flower plant - Closer look.jpg|''Alcea'' sp. Closer look at the flower
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Alcea|''Alcea''}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Alcea|''Alcea''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1148371}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alcea| ]]
[[Category:Malveae]]
[[Category:Malvaceae genera]]
[[Category:Perennial plants]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]