328 FLORA HISTORICA, 



HOLLYHOCK. Alcea Rosea. 



Natural Order Columniferce. Malvacece, Juss. A 

 Genus of the Monaddphia Polyandria Class. 



From the nectaries of Hollyhocks 



The humble bee, e'en till he faints, will sip. 



H. S^IITH. 



The cultivation of this magnificent Eastern plant is 

 of great antiquity in this country. Its noble size, 

 majestic height, and splendid flovvers, could not fail 

 to attract the attention of our earliest collectors of 

 exotic plants ; and although we cannot state the 

 time when the Hollyhock was first brought to this 

 country, it was certainly much earlier than the date 

 mentioned in the Hortus Kewensis, or any other 

 modern work on plants that we have been able to 

 consult. Dr. Turner speaks of it as a familiar 

 plant in his w^ork, dated 2kh June, 1564; -, and 

 Gerard, in 1597, observes that it was then sown in 

 gardens almost everywhere. 



The derivation of the English name of this 

 flower may be traced to the Saxon language, the 

 old name of Holy oak being the same as Holihec. 



Mortimer retains the old name of Holyocks for 



