Alcea rosea L.

Biennial to perennial up to 2–(3) m high, with a single main stem. Stems sparsely to densely clothed in stellate hairs and hispid when young, becoming ± glabrous or with scattered deflexed hairs when mature. Lvs moderately to densely clothed in stellate hairs, becoming ± glabrous above when mature, suborbicular, cordate or sagittate at base, not lobed or shallowly to moderately 3–7-lobed to < ⅓ radius particularly in stem lvs, crenate or serrate, c. 2–20 cm diam.; petioles 2- c. 30 cm long; stipules triangular, 1–3-toothed, 6–10 mm long. Fls axillary, usually solitary, rarely in clusters of 2–3; fruiting pedicels 1–5–(20) cm long; epicalyx segments 6, narrow-triangular, united for lower ?-1/2, c. 1/2–3/4 as long as calyx at flowering, usually recurved at fruiting; calyx campanulate; calyx teeth narrow- or ovate-triangular, acute, densely clothed in stellate hairs, ± connivent at fruiting; petals white, light to dark pink, deep crimson or purple, sometimes darker at base, 30–60 mm long. Mericarps numerous in each fr., with appressed hairs on the narrowly furrowed back; edges winged.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Feb.