Alcea,
commonly known as hollyhocks, is a
genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the
mallow family Malvaceae. They are native to Asia and Europe. Hollyhocks
are annual, biennial, or perennial
plants 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 petioles. The flowers may be solitary or arranged in
fascicles or racemes. Source
