Alcea rugosa

Alefeld

Oesterr. Bot. Z. 12: 254. 1862.

Common names: Russian hollyhock
Introduced
Synonyms: Alcea novopokrovski Iljin A. taurica Iljin Althaea rugosa (Alefeld) Litvinov
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 229. Mentioned on page 228.

Plants 1.5–2.5 m, stellate-hairy. Leaves: stipules ovate, 6–11 mm, apically 2–4-lobed; petiole equaling or longer than blade; blade ovate to ovate-orbiculate, usually 5–7-lobed 1/2 or more to midrib, often figlike, 7–15 cm, margins crenate. Inflorescences simple, flowers solitary, subsessile; bracts leaflike. Pedicels 6 mm, to 8–10 mm in fruit; involucellar bractlets 6-parted, usually 1/2–2/3 calyx length. Flowers: calyx hairy; corolla not doubled, 8–10 cm diam., petals pale yellow, usually drying greenish, notched, narrowed to base, 5 cm; staminal column bearing anthers at apex; anthers 5-rowed when viewed from above; style 20–40-branched. Schizocarps enclosed by calyx, 2 cm diam.; mericarps (20–)30(–40), channeled and winged dorsally, 4–6 mm. Seeds tuberculate or not, glabrous or minutely hairy axially. 2n = 42.


Phenology: Flowering May–Oct; fruiting Jun–Oct.
Habitat: Disturbed sites, roadsides, vacant lots
Elevation: 0–300 m

Distribution

V6 408-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Md., Wis., e Europe, w Asia, introduced widely.

Discussion

Alcea rugosa is a showy ornamental that is becoming more frequent in cultivation because it is more resistant to hollyhock rust (Puccinia malvacearum) than A. rosea. The species is native in temperate eastern Europe in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and to western Asia in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It occasionally escapes and naturalizes in disturbed temperate areas worldwide.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Alcea rugosa"
Steven R. Hill +
Alefeld +
Russian hollyhock +
Md. +, Wis. +, e Europe +, w Asia +  and introduced widely. +
0–300 m +
Disturbed sites, roadsides, vacant lots +
Flowering May–Oct +  and fruiting Jun–Oct. +
Oesterr. Bot. Z. +
Introduced +
Alcea novopokrovski +, A. taurica +  and Althaea rugosa +
Alcea rugosa +
species +