Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

(Torrey & A. Gray) Schery

Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 29: 215. 1942.

Common names: Texas mallow Turk’s-cap Drummond waxmallow
Illustrated
Basionym: Malvaviscus drummondii Torrey & A. Gray Fl. N. Amer. 1: 230. 1838
Synonyms: Pavonia drummondii Torrey & A. Gray
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 300. Mentioned on page 298, 299.

Plants clone-forming, 0.5–1.5(–3) m, softly hairy. Stems glabrous proximally, densely and minutely tomentose distally. Leaf blades deeply 3-lobed, broadly ovate, 4–9 × 4–12 cm, at least as long as wide, base usually strongly cordate, margins crenate-dentate, apex obtuse (acute). Petals 1.5–3.5 cm. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Limestone slopes and ledges, wooded arroyos, along streams in shaded areas
Elevation: 0–200 m

Distribution

V6 544-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Tex., Mexico (Coahuila, Tamaulipas).

Discussion

It is questionable whether var. drummondii is native to states east of Texas. The remarkably uniform populations that grow in central Texas suggest that the variety is native there. The taxon apparently was, early on, taken into cultivation in coastal southeastern United States, where it has escaped and persisted. Variety drummondii is also grown in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina but has not naturalized.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Meghan G. Mendenhall +  and Paul A. Fryxell† +
(Torrey & A. Gray) Schery +
Malvaviscus drummondii +
Texas mallow +, Turk’s-cap +  and Drummond waxmallow +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Miss. +, Tex. +, Mexico (Coahuila +  and Tamaulipas). +
0–200 m +
Limestone slopes and ledges, wooded arroyos, along streams in shaded areas +
Flowering summer–fall. +
Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. +
Illustrated +
Pavonia drummondii +
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii +
Malvaviscus arboreus +
variety +