Alcea Alcea Alcea is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Western Hemisphere, the streambank wild hollyhock, belongs to a different genus. 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
Zephyranthes rosea into three lobes. The seeds are shiny black and flattened. "Zephyranthes rosea" belongs to the genus "Zephyranthes" (rain lilies) of the subtribe Zephyranthinea of the tribe Hippeastreae. It is classified under the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). In broader classifications, they are sometimes included within the lily family (Liliaceae). "Zephyranthes rosea" (like other rain lilies) are so named because they produce short-lived flowers only after seasonal heavy rains or storms. In "Z. rosea", this usually occurs during the late summer. The generic name "Zephyranthes" literally means "flowers of the west wind", from Greek ζέφυρος ("zéphuros", an Anemoi) and