Malvaviscus arboreus / Turk’s cap

Malvaviscus arboreus Dill. ex Cav.

Synonym: = Hibiscus malvaviscus

Common names: Turk’s cap, wax mallow, bleeding hearts, Mexican apple, manzanita

Form: low shrub, shrub.

Flowers: June-Nov (red).

Experimentation

Flowers – I have eaten them many times. They have a hibiscus taste. Their infusion make an excellent tea.

Fruits – I have eaten the fruits many times. They have a mild to sweet taste, an apple-like texture, and can be eaten seeds and all.

Leaves – I have eaten the leaves many times. They have a mild taste. They become a bit tough with age, but can be palatable cooked at any stage.

Tull (1987:119) confirms the above parts as edible and palatable.

Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. in GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-04-27.
Malvaviscus arboreus in Austin, TX.
Malvaviscus arboreus in Austin, TX.
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in United States of America by Brooke Smith (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in United States of America by er-birds (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in United States of America by Brooke Smith (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in United States of America by Brooke Smith (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in United States of America by Bonnie Semmling (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. observed in Mexico by Alexis López Hernández (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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