Hollyhocks: Introduction, Taxonomy, Habitat, Cultivation, propagation and collection, Plant Description, Phytochemicals, Properties and uses
Introduction
Althaea rosea is a member of the Malvaceae family. The Greek word altho, which means to cure, is the source of the generic name Althaea. Hollyhocks are tall, unbranched plants that can be annual, biennial, or perennial. Star-shaped hairs typically cover the herbage. The leaf blades are carried on long petioles and are frequently serrated or lobed.
Althaea rosea is a stately ornamental plant that bears big, multicoloured flowers that can be single, semi-double, double, or frilled. Mucilage is present in every component of this plant, which is utilized medicinally. Chest pains, gastrointestinal issues, boils, abscesses, wounds, ulcers, burns, asthma, bronchitis, and many more conditions can all be helped by this plant.
Plant taxonomy
Kingdom – Plantae
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Malvales
Family – Malvaceae (mallow family)
Genus – Althaea L
Species – Althaea rosea Linn
Vernacular names: Hock Herb, Hollyhock, Round Dock, Pass rose
Habitat
This genus of herbs is found in Central Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. Native to Greece and China, it is frequently grown in Indian gardens. Occasionally discovered as a means of escape in landfills and by the side of the road.
Cultivation, propagation and collection
The greatest time of year to cultivate the herbs is on the plains during the winter when the monsoon is not so strong. It can also thrive during rainy seasons. The plains have been growing all year round under moderate climate conditions. On the hills and the plains, the flowering seasons differ. Although the early ones may flower sooner, the plants typically do so in four to five months. With the addition of organic manure, they can thrive on sandy or clayey soils. In addition to proper spacing of 60 cm by 60 cm, sufficient irrigation is required.
Seeds are typically used for propagation on the plains. The seeds are planted in manured, well-prepared beds that are irrigated regularly. The division of roots with crown buds and shoot cuttings allows the herbs to be multiplied on the hills. Since Althaea rosea is heavily cross-pollinated, not all hybrids will have true colours and shapes.
Plant Description
1. Althaea rosea is an annual or biennial herb that is erect, 0.5-2.0 m tall, simple or sparingly branched, and stellately hairy.
2. This plant’s stem is erect, robust, simple, and more or less hispid, with fascicled branched hairs. It frequently reaches 2.4 to 3 meters.
3. The leaves are cordate-ovate, big, 7.5–12.5 cm in diameter, long, petioled, and acutely 5–7 lobed. Because of the thick layer of glandular trichomes, the thin leaves appear thick.
4. The flowers are huge, frequently more than 10 cm wide, short-pedicelled, purple, rose, or white, and produce long terminal racemes.
5. Involucres are big, cup-shaped, monophyllous, obtuse, and frequently bifid segments 6–9. There are five clefts, downy, acute segments, and a big calyx.
6. The petals are waxy, obcordate, and quite broad. Its anthers are pale yellow, and its stamen tube is short.
7. The ovary is a multicellular organ with a single ovule per cell. Disc-shaped fruit that, when ripe, split into single-seeded nutlets.
8. The kidney-shaped, brownish-black seeds have a rugose surface and hair on the edge. They measure around 6 mm.
9. When the seeds soak in water, they become mucilaginous.
Parts Used
Roots, leaves, seeds and flowers
Phytochemicals
The flowers have tannins, starch, and mucilage. They produce altheanin (aromadendrin-3-glucoside, 0.06%), a flavonoid, and althaein, an anthocyanin colour. Aside from sucrose, glucose, galactose, and mannose, the fruits and leaves also include primary alcohols, cyclohexanol, limonene, phellandrene, and β-sitosterol. Additionally, the leaves contain α-terphenyl acetate and p-tolualdehyde.
Properties and uses
1. Althaea rosea seeds are diuretic, febrifugal, mucilaginous, demulcent, emollient, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory.
2. Asthma, boils and abscesses, diarrhoea, skin wounds and burns, hemoptysis, constipation, intestinal colic, peptic ulceration, renal calculi, burning micturition, cough, and chest complaints can all benefit from them.
3. Althaea rosea roots have astringent and demulcent qualities. Diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, ulcers, severe coughs, fever, bronchitis, and inflammation are among the conditions it is used to treat.
4. Althaea rosea flowers have diuretic, cooling, demulcent, emollient, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, astringent, and other characteristics that help with rheumatism, constipation, chest conditions, and blood circulation.
5. The roots and blossoms help with seminal and vaginal discharge, as well as renal and uterine inflammations.
6. The entire plant helps with dandruff, kidney pain, urinary irritation, jaundice, coughing, irritable stomach, throat pain and swelling, and asthma.