Alcea rosa , or althea , is a member of the mallow family of flora . The species is native to southwest and central Asia . Hollyhock is easily recognize by its improbable spike and abundant round cup - shaped flowers that flower in shades of pinkish and red . The flowers are pleat , double salmagundi or single petaled . Hollyhocks are not well transplanted because of their tight - growing , recollective root structure .
Description
Hollyhock spikes grow 4 to 8 feet grandiloquent on a solution social system with a long main taproot . The taproot has brusque stolon , or side crown - buds , at the oral sex of the root system of rules at the soil line . It is sort out as a perennial works , but is often naturalize as a biennial . blowball , foxglove , columbine and delphinium also have this character of base complex body part . They farm as biennials because the crown - bud on the source construction are well dislodge when the marvellous middle spindle float in the wind or is touch at the grime ancestry .
Growth Cycle
When the summit - bud at the top of the root system are not disturbed by pelting or hint , the hollyhock growth oscillation is completed in 2 yr . It sheds seeds from flowers that grow individually or in clustering along the chief stem . Each blossom is 3 to 5 inch widely when fully opened . It has five flower petal , five sepal , six to nine sepal - like bract and a columniform structure in the centre which contains the procreative system of the plant .
Cultivation
Crown - buds at the top of the hollyhock root structure must be well protected by loose soil or George Sand as the flora commence to raise in springtime . They call for well - drained soil to forestall rust disease problem that unremarkably originate on leaves . Hollyhocks ask light on their lower basal leave and do well when planted in groups by themselves . arboraceous decorative shrubs nearby will block the needed light .
Range and Habit
Hollyhock seeds spud well and are carried on the wind to propagate in uncultivated areas . They grow well in sun to fond shade and adjust well to a mixture of soil conditions . usual habitats include railroads , wayside , vacant hatful and waste area . Hollyhocks have fan out in the wild over most of the United States and easterly Canada .
Uses
Hollyhock root have traditionally been used as medicine . It is a demulcent and an astringent that is used for soothing inflame mucous membrane and outwardly as a poultice for skin wounds . In traditional Tibetan medicine , crush hollyhock root is used to deal kidney and uterine inflammation . The seed and flowers are used as treatment to improve blood circulation and for chest problems .
References
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