‖ Althæa Bot.
(ælˈθiːə)
[L. althæa, a. Gr. ἀλθαία marsh mallow, f. ἄλθειν to heal.]
A genus of plants (family Malvaceæ) of which the Marsh Mallow and Hollyhock are species; by florists often extended to the genus Hibiscus.
| 1669 W[orlidge] Syst. Agric. (1681) 125 Grafting is principally used in..Gessamins, Althea-frutex, and such like. 1785 Cowper Task vi. 170 Althæa with the purple eye. 1866 Masters in Treas. Bot. 46 Several species of Althæa are in cultivation, but the gay flowering shrub commonly called Althæa frutex is, properly speaking, a Hibiscus (H. syriacus). 1882 Contemp. Rev. Jan. 8 Althæas of many colours. |