About Alcea setosa (Boiss.) Alef.
Alcea setosa, commonly known as the bristly hollyhock, is an ornamental plant belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is native to the Levant, with a range extending from Crete, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria to the botanical region of Palestine, which includes Israel and Jordan. The above-ground portion of the plant withers and dies each summer. In winter, a floral rosette develops, and a vertical flowering stem grows from this rosette. The plant produces numerous large pink flowers; flower color varies by location: plants growing in Galilee and Carmel have darker flowers, while those in Gilboa and Samaria have lighter flowers. On Mount Lebanon, flower color ranges from dark pink to white. The entire plant is covered in bristles, which is the origin of its common name. The plant flowers from April to June. In folk medicine, liquid extracted from the plant is used to treat injuries, burns, coughs, and inflammation. Its flower buds are edible both cooked and raw, and are used medicinally for airway sicknesses. In Lebanese villages, bristly hollyhock flowers are sun-dried, mixed with other herbs and wild flowers to make a concoction, and served as a tea drink.
