Malvaviscus arboreus

Cavanilles

Manzanito, Wax mallow

Malvaceae Edible: Fruit, Flowers 28,824 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Malvaviscus arboreus is a species of flowering plant in the hibiscus family, Malvaceae, that is native to the American South, 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 and goes by many English names including wax mallow, Turk's cap (mallow), Turk's turban, sleeping hibiscus, manzanilla, manzanita (de pollo), ladies teardrop and Scotchman's purse; many of these common names refer to other, in some cases unrelated, plants. Its flowers do not open fully and help attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Description

A small shrub. It grows about 2-4 m high. The leaves are long or heart shaped and velvety. They are 5-12 cm long. The leaves can have 3 lobes. The flowers are long and tapering. They face upwards. The fruit are small red berries.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. Juicy and somewhat mucilaginous, they are often eaten by children but adults find them mawkish in flavour and not very appetizing.

Medicinal Uses

A liniment made from the base of the plant is used for dressing burns. The flowers and leaves are emollient. A decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of bronchitis, fevers, inflammation of the digestive tract, and in popular practice as an emmenagogue. A decoction of the flowers is used as a gargle to treat sore throats. A decoction of the leaves is used for the treatment of cystitis, diarrhoea, gastritis, and sore throat.

Distribution

A tropical plant. In Central America it grows from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Wittunga Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Antilles, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America*, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Himalayas, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, North America*, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, USA, Vietnam, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings generally rot well. Layering

Other Uses

A decoction or infusion of the leaves is applied to the hair in order to make it soft and lustrous. The bark contains a tough fibre.

Notes

There are 3-6 Malvaviscus species. They occur in tropical America.

Synonyms

Hibiscus malvaviscus Linn.

Also Known As

Amapola, Amapolita, Arito blanco, Arito, Bejuquillo, Bup gian-xay, Catapachat, Chinese pinyin, Flor de arito, Flor de santo, Gagapache, Gkrum guada, Khursani phul, Manzana, Manzano, Monacillo, Obelisco, Ok-htok-pan, Quesillo, Quesito, Tripa de buey, Tulipancillo

References (19)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2754
Chizmar Fernandez, C., et al, 2009, Plantas comestibles de Centroamerica. Instituto de Biodiversidad, Costa Rica. p 231
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 868
Diss. 3:131, t. 48, fig. 1. 1787
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 468

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