What is "rose mallow"

Hollyhock \Hol"ly*hock\, n. [OE. holihoc; holi holy + hoc mallow, AS. hoc; cf. W. hocys mallows, hocys bendigaid hollyhock, lit., blessed mallow. Prob. so named because brought from the Holy Land. See Holy.] (Bot.) A species of Alth[ae]a ( Alth[ae]a rosea), bearing flowers of various colors; -- called also rose mallow.

Note: Rose mallow is listed as a variety of Hibiscus, not Hollyhock in several Web pages. Name change???

1. n. showy shrub of salt marshes of the eastern United States having large rose-colored flowers [syn: swamp mallow, common rose mallow, swamp rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos]

2. plant with terminal racemes of showy white to pink or purple flowers; the English cottage garden hollyhock [syn: Alcea rosea, Althea rosea]

Rose mallow may refer to:

• Any plant in the Lavatera genus; specially Lavatera trimestris
• Any of several species in the Hibiscus genus, especially:
  • Hibiscus lasiocarpos
  • Hibiscus moscheutos