 :this article is about the flower. for the j. league division 2 team, see mito hollyhock   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.  ==description== 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. the notched petals are usually over 3 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. ==species== there are about 60 species of alcea, including:grin species records of alcea. germplasm resources information network (grin). *alcea acaulis *alcea biennis (syn. a. pallida) *alcea calvertii *alcea ficifolia â antwerp hollyhock *alcea flavovirens *alcea grossheimii â grossheim's alcea *alcea heldreichii *alcea kurdica *alcea lavateriflora *alcea litwinowii *alcea longipedicellata *alcea nudiflora *alcea pallida *alcea rhyticarpa *alcea rosea â common hollyhock *alcea rugosa *alcea setosa â bristly hollyhock *alcea sosnovskyi *alcea striata *alcea sulphurea ==uses==   hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants. they are easily grown from seed. breeds with red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. cultivars have been bred, especially from a. rosea. they include the double-flowered 'chater's double', the [[raspberry (color)|rasp
Flowers Garden_plants Malveae Perennial_plants