Israel wildflowers: Stemless Hollyhock

Alcea acaulis, Althaea acaulis, Stemless Hollyhock,

Hebrew: חוטמית עין הפרה, Arabic: ختمية زاحفة

Scientific name:   Alcea acaulis (Cav.) Alef.
Synonym name:   Althaea acaulis Cav.
Common name:   Stemless Hollyhock
Hebrew name:   חוטמית עין הפרה
Arabic name:   ختمية زاحفة
Family:   Malvaceae, חלמיתיים


Life form:   Chamaephyte, semi-shrub
Stems:   Almost stemless
Leaves:   Alternate, entire, dentate or serrate
Flowers:   Pink, purple, white
Flowering Period:   March, April, May
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

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

acaulis, ακαυλοϛ, stemless, or with only very short stems.
The Hebrew word: חוטמית, chotmit from a bulge, 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 Cav. is used to indicate Antonio José Cavanilles (1745 – 1804), a leading Spanish taxonomic botanist of the 18th century.
  • The standard author abbreviation Alef. is used to indicate Friedrich Georg Christoph Alefeld (1820 – 1872), a German botanist, author and medical practitioner.