Flowers of Israel: Fingered Hollyhock

Alcea digitata, Althaea digitata, Fingered Hollyhock,

Hebrew: חטמית מאוצבעת, Arabic: خطمية إصبعية

Scientific name:   Alcea digitata (Boiss.) Alef.
Synonym name:   Althaea digitata Boiss.
Common name:   Fingered Hollyhock
Hebrew name:   חטמית מאוצבעת
Arabic name:   خطمية إصبعية
Family:   Malvaceae, חלמיתיים


Life form:   Hemicryptophyte
Stems:   Erect , unbranched,
Leaves:   Alternate, palmate; compound, pinnate or bipinnate, pinnate; dentate or serrate margin’ stipule
Flowers:   Hermaphrodite; pink, violet petals
Fruits / pods:   Schizocarp, disk-shaped
Flowering Period:   April, May, June
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Alcea, alkaia, αλκεα (Greek), according to Dioscorides: a kind of mallow; a poisonous plant.

digitata, digit, finger; fingered.
Althaea, from the Greek word altho “to cure”; αλϑαια; Althaea officinalis, marsh mallow.
The Hebrew word: חוטמית, chotmit from the “staminal column” or “stamen tube” arising from the centre of the flower, reminiscent of a snout and originates from the name in Arabic, Khatima.

  • The standard author abbreviation Boiss. is used to indicate Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810 – 1885), a Swiss botanist, explorer and mathematician.
  • The standard author abbreviation Alef. is used to indicate Friedrich Georg Christoph Alefeld (1820 – 1872), a German botanist, author and medical practitioner.