Turkcap

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Turk's-cap
• Turk's cap
• wax mallow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hibiscus malvaviscus
• Achania malvaviscus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Malvaviscus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several distinct regions across Africa and Asia. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Tunisia. Moving into the tropical zones, it can be found in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the DR Congo. Its distribution also extends to Northeast Tropical Africa, where it grows in Chad. Finally, the species reaches the Indian Subcontinent, documented in the region of Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Malvaviscus arboreus is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it integrates into the complex structural layers of the ecosystem. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Within these forested environments, its distribution and growth patterns are closely tied to the specific microclimates and light availability provided by the forest canopy and understory.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Malvaviscus arboreus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial branches well above the ground, a trait consistent across both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific structural life form. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Malvaviscus arboreus is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily developing as a self-supporting shrub. This terrestrial plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 2 meters, though it has the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 5 meters. As a non-parasitic species, it functions as an independent organism within its ecosystem, neither acting as a climber nor an epiphyte, but rather maintaining a stable, self-supporting structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Malaviscus arboreus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many woody shrubs in temperate and tropical environments. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, lacking specialized water-storage tissues, which is consistent with its specific leaf area (SLA) mean of 254.92 cm²/g. The leaf morphology shows significant variability in dimensions; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, with an average length of 9 cm. Similarly, leaf width varies from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, maintaining a mean width of 4.25 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources to support its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

254.92 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Malvaviscus arboreus is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent in nature, typically measuring an average of 2 cm in length and 1.3 cm in width. The dispersal strategy is zoochorous, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 mm to a maximum of 15 mm. In terms of weight, the seed mass is relatively consistent, with a mean mass of 0.046405 g, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.04585 g and a maximum of 0.04696 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

15 mm

Seed length min:

6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.04696 g

Seed mass mean:

0.046405 g

Seed mass min:

0.04585 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Malvaviscus arboreus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. PloS one
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Malvaviscus arboreus has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Astragalin, Flavonoids, Trifolin, polyphenols.

Astragalin

1. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Trifolin

1. PloS one

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Malvaviscus arboreus has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. PloS one

Medicinal Uses

Malvaviscus arboreus has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dysentery, fever, gastric ulcer, gastritis.

Most Reported Uses