Family: Malvaceae
Author: Dill. ex Cav.
Bibliography: Diss. 3: t. 48, f. 1 (1787)
Year: 1787
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Malvaviscus
Vegetable: False
Observations: Mexico to Trinidad and Peru
Description
Turk’s-cap, scientifically known as Malvaviscus arboreus, is an intriguing plant that fascinates botanists and gardeners alike. Originally described in the 1787 bibliography “Diss. 3: t. 48, f. 1” by Dillenius, later expanded upon by Cavanilles, this plant has a notable historical and botanical background worth exploring.
Belonging to the Malvaceae family, Turk’s-cap is endemic to a wide geographical range extending from Mexico through to Trinidad and down to Peru. This broad distribution suggests an impressive adaptability across different climates and ecological zones.
One of the most appealing aspects of Malvaviscus arboreus is its vibrant, distinctive flowers, which resemble a traditional Turkish hat, hence the common name “Turk’s-cap.” These red, tubular blossoms stand out vividly against the plant’s green foliage, making it a popular choice for ornamental gardens. Not only are the flowers visually striking, but they also attract a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of any garden area.
The plant can thrive in various environments, from tropical regions to more temperate zones, proving its remarkable resilience. It typically prefers well-drained soils and can flourish both in full sun and partial shade, making it a versatile addition to many landscape designs.
Furthermore, Turk’s-cap has caught the attention of herbalists; traditional uses include various applications for its purported medicinal properties. While scientific evidence supporting these uses is still being compiled, the plant remains an element of interest in ethnobotanical studies.
In conclusion, Malvaviscus arboreus or Turk’s-cap is not only a horticultural gem but also an important species in the study of botany. Its broad geographical spread, attractive appearance, ecological benefits, and potential medicinal uses make it a valuable plant worthy of both study and admiration.
Common Names
Eng: turk’s-cap, wax mallow, sleeping hibiscus, turks cap
Swe: bärmalva
Spa: flor de santos, manzanillo, monacillo, obelisco de la sierra, tripa de buey, tulipancillo
En: Turk’s-cap, Wax mallow, Fire dart bush, Sleeping Hibiscus, Turkscap, Wax-Mallow, Malvaviscus arboreus, 悬铃花, Turks cap
Af: Rooi pylblom
Zh: 小悬铃花
Nl: Wasmalve
Fi: Tarhamalva
Fr: Hibiscus dormeur, Hibiscus dormant, Hibiscus piment
Ml: മൊട്ടുചെമ്പരത്തി
Fa: پنیرک درختی
Pt: Malvavisco
Es: Manzanillo, Tripa de buey, Tulipancillo, Monacillo, Obelisco de la sierra, Flor de santos, Amapola, Quesito
Sv: Bärmalva
Zh-tw: 南美朱槿
Zh-hant: 懸鈴花
Synonyms
- Achania coccinea (Salisb.)
- Malvaviscus coccineus (Medik.)
- Achania malvaviscus ((L.) Sw.)
- Hibiscus malvaviscus (L.)
- Malvaviscus malvaviscus ((L.) Voss)
Distribution
- Belize (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- El Salvador (native)
- Guatemala (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Peru (native)
- Texas (native)
- Trinidad-Tobago (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Assam (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Cayman Is. (introduced)
- Chad (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Tubuai Is. (introduced)
- Tunisia (introduced)
- Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
- Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
- Zaïre (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Aug 9, 2003 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 16, 2019 by Rodriguez Santiago (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2021 by SINAC Pérez Greivin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 19, 2019 by Mata-Montero Erick (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 13, 2017 by Marc Heland (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Dec 11, 2020 by Christopher Brenner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 21, 2021 by Mahanina Cedric Andrianarimisa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2021 by SINAC Pérez Greivin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2021 by SINAC Pérez Greivin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 8, 2020 by Montalbán Diva (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 10, 2018 by Tela Botanica − La Spada Arturo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 22, 2018 by Cherokee Twin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 10, 2018 by Tela Botanica − La Spada Arturo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 1, 2019 by Martínez Eduardo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2021 by Randall Muñoz Vega (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Nov 3, 2019 by Pierre Sosson (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by Serge Klein (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 29, 2020 by Nyunyshkin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2021 by Martín SINAC CR (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 20, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 13, 2022 by Francois Mansour (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 29, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jan 19, 2019 by Natividad Vidal Ramos (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Juan Carlos Ordonez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 2, 2021 by Susan Miltiades (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 18, 2021 by crabmail (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152775)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30041958-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Malvaviscus arboreus Cav.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Subshrub, Shrub