Malvaviscus penduliflorus explained

Malvaviscus penduliflorus is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It can be found in many tropical places including in the United States,[1] South America, Asia, Australia, and several islands.[2]

It's known by many names including mazapan, Turk's cap mallow, cardinal's hat, firecracker hibiscus, sleeping hibiscus, and sleepy mallow;[3] [4] some of these names are shared with other flowers, most especially Malvaviscus arboreus. Its name penduliflorus means "hanging flower"

It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, though it can also be eaten.

Description

It is a perennial shrub that can reach up to tall.[5] It produces red hanging tubular flowers with stamens that stick out. It has pointed, ovular leaves and hairy stems. Like other members the Malvaviscus genus, M. penduliflorus produces sap and small red fruits.

Distribution

It is unknown where Malvaviscus penduliflorus is native to, though speculated to be Mexico, possibly as a cultivation of M. arboreus. It is cultivated and naturalized throughout tropical climates including North and South America, Oceania including Australia and New Zealand, Africa, Asia, and some islands.

Synonyms

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USDA Plants Database . 2024-03-12 . plants.usda.gov.
  2. Malvaviscus penduliflorus (Turk's cap mallow) . Rojas-Sandoval . Julissa . 2022-01-07 . 10.1079/cabicompendium.86508374 . en. free .
  3. Web site: Turk's Cap Mallow – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences . 2024-03-12 . gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu.
  4. Web site: Malvaviscus penduliflorus – Species Details . 2024-03-12 . Atlas of Florida Plants.
  5. Web site: National Tropical Botanical Garden Malvaviscus penduliflorus – Plant Detail – Tropical Plants Database . 2024-03-15 . National Tropical Botanical Garden . en-US.
  6. Web site: Malvaviscus penduliflorus Moc. & Sessé ex DC. Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2024-03-12 . Plants of the World Online . en.
  7. Web site: Tropicos Name – Malvaviscus penduliflorus DC. . 2024-03-12 . legacy.tropicos.org.