Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 687 (1753).

Derivation: Greek alkea, the mallow.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Annual or perennial more or less erect herbs with stellate hairs; leaves palmately angled or lobed.

Flowers bisexual, 1-4 in the axils of leaves or in terminal racemes, subsessile, showy; epicalyx of 5-11 connate segments; sepals fused at the base; petals 5, large and brightly coloured; staminal tube 5-angled; carpels usually more than 18, in a single whorl; stigmas lateral.

Fruit a shizocarp; mericarps indehiscent, of 2 cells, the upper cell empty, the lower cell 1-seeded.

Distribution:  About 60 Eurasian species.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available