ALTHÆA, in botany, a genus of the monadelphia polyandria class. The calix of the althæa is double, and the outer one is divided into nine segments; and the capsules are numerous, each containing but one seed.
There are three species of this genus, viz. the officinalis, a native of Britain, the root and leaves of which are supposed to be balsamic, pectoral and stomachic; the cannabina, a native of Hungary; and the hirsuta, a native of France, Italy, &c.