Malvaviscus arboreus

Malvaviscus arboreus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Malvaviscus
Species: M. arboreus
Binomial name
Malvaviscus arboreus
Cav.
Varieties

See text

Synonyms

Achania mollis Aiton[1]

Malvaviscus arboreus is a species of flowering plant in the hibiscus family, Malvaceae,[1] that is native to the Southeastern United States,[2] Mexico, Central America, and South America. The specific name, arboreus, refers to the tree-like appearance of a mature plant. It is now popular in cultivation[3] and goes by many English names including Turkcap, Turk's Turban, Wax Mallow, Ladies Teardrop and Scotchman's Purse. Its flowers do not open fully and help attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Habitat and ecology

An example occurrence of M. arboreus is within the coastal Petenes mangroves of the Yucatán region of Mexico, in which plant community it is a subdominant species.[4] M. arboreus is the primary host plant for the caterpillars of the Turk's-cap White-Skipper (Heliopetes macaira).[5]

Varieties

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Malvaviscus arboreus Cav.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2002-07-16. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
  2. ↑ "Malvaviscus arboreus Dill. ex Cav. wax mallow". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  3. ↑ Clay, Horace F.; James C. Hubbard (1987). Tropical Shrubs. University of Hawaii Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-8248-1128-0.
  4. ↑ World Wildlife Fund. eds. Mark McGinley, C.Michael Hogan & C. Cleveland. 2010. Petenes mangroves. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC
  5. ↑ "Turk's-cap White-Skipper Heliopetes macaira (Reakirt, [1867])". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  6. ↑ "Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. var. drummondii (Torr. & A. Gray) Schery". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1999-03-23. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
  7. ↑ "Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. var. mexicanus Schltdl.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-04-01. Retrieved 2010-03-23.

External links

Media related to Malvaviscus arboreus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Malvaviscus arboreus at Wikispecies