Malvaviscus arboreus var. arboreus

[F I]
Synonyms: Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus Schlechtendal M. grandiflorus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 299.

Plants not clone-forming, 1–3 [–10] m, subglabrous to densely hairy. Stems stellate-hairy to glabrate (glabrous). Leaf-blades usually unlobed, sometimes shallowly 3–5-lobed, elliptic to ovate, 4–20 [–25] × 3–12 cm, often longer than wide, base rounded (to subcordate), margins serrate to subentire, apex acute. Petals 1.5–4 (–5) cm. 2n = ca. 28, 56.


Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Palm forests and thorn scrub, sometimes cultivated
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

V6 543-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America (Colombia)

Discussion

Variety arboreus is infrequently cultivated in the Rio Grande Valley and eastward to Florida. It does not appear to be native within the flora area, and the Texas record was likely an escape. Individuals may escape and persist.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Meghan G. Mendenhall +  and Paul A. Fryxell† +
rounded +
Hibiscus malvaviscus +
schizocarpic +
asymmetric +  and symmetric +
elliptic +  and broadly ovate unlobed or 3-5-lobed +
linear-spatulate +
persistent +
indehiscent +  and loculicidal +
Tex. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and n South America (Colombia) +
0–100 m +
sparse;copious +
pistillate +  and staminate +
erect +  and ascending +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
oblate;not inflated +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.7 cm17 mm <br />0.017 m <br />) +
Palm forests and thorn scrub, sometimes cultivated +
axillary +  and terminal +
tough-fibrous +
connate +  and distinct +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
often longer than wide +
elliptic +  and ovate +
simple +, stipulate +, sessile +, subsessile +  and petiolate +
distichous +  and alternate +
connate +
hirsute +  and glabrous +
entire +  and serrate +
serrate;subentire +
wedge--shaped +  and ellipsoid +
3-40-carpellate +
(1-)2-many +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
adnate +  and distinct +
auriculate;obovate-cuneate +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
Flowering summer–fall. +
reniform +
persistent +
Illustrated +
sessile +  and subsessile +
not viscid +
stellate-hairy +  and glabrate +
filiform +, linear +  and capitate +
1-2 times number of carpels +
subulate +  and linear +
unbranched +  and branched +
Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus +  and M. grandiflorus +
Malvaviscus arboreus var. arboreus +
Malvaviscus arboreus +
variety +
300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br /> (1,000 cm10,000 mm <br />10 m <br />) +
subglabrous +  and densely hairy +
monoecious +, dioecious +  and hermaphroditic +