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Wax mallow

Malvaviscus

Also called Turk's Cap

Wax mallow
Photo: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0
Family
Malvaceae (Mallow family)

About

Malvaviscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Common names for species in this genus include Turk's cap mallow, wax mallow, sleeping hibiscus, and mazapan. It belongs to a group of genera that differ from the closely related Hibiscus in possessing a fruit divided into 5 separate parts (a schizocarp), and having a style surmounted by 10, rather than 5, capitate or capitellate stigmas. Among those genera Malvaviscus is distinguished by having auriculate petals and red, fleshy fruits.

The generic name is derived from the Latin words malva, meaning "mallow," and viscus, which means "sticky," referring to the mucilaginous sap produced by members of the genus.

Other Malvaviscus plants

Wax mallow · Malvaviscus palmanus · Mazapan

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Malvaviscus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.

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