Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Malvaviscus penduliflorus is a shrub up to 4 m tall with fairly dense split hairs on the stems. The leaves are oval or sword shaped, 4-10 cm long, with a pointed tip and toothed margins. The flowers are either solitary or clustered and hang downwards. The flowers are similar to Hibiscus flower in that the stalks that support the anthers (pollen producing structures) fuse to form a column that sticks out from the rest of the flower. By extending the anthers out from the flower the pollen is exposed to pollinators to ensure the transfer of pollen for fertilization of a different flower therefore ensuring seed production. In Hawaii this plant does not fruit, although it is said to produce fruit occasionally in Mexico.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

This plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub or hedge. A healthy individual will flower continuously. The flowers are occasionally made into lei, but plucked flowers will quickly darken, and are said to stain clothing.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

This plant is a cultigen (unknown in the wild) which is probably derived from M. arboreus var arboreus in Southern Mexico. Today it is widely cultivated throughout the tropics. You can occasionally find specimens growing in disturbed areas on Hawaii, Kaua'i and Maui, although because this plant doesn’t seem to fruit, it is assumed that humans planted it in these areas.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

We currently have 14 herbarium specimens for Malvaviscus penduliflorus in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 008900 - collected by M.-H. Sachet in 1975
• 021934 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1980
• 022136 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1980
• 015564 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1994
• 031894 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2001
• 038740 - collected by F. Sohl in 2001
• 045619 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2006
• 055868 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2007
• 048154 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
• 081766 - collected by David E. Brussell in 2008
• 049533 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2008
• 050275 - collected by Oahu Early Detection in 2009
• Unassigned - collected by David H. Lorence in 2009
• 049285 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2009