Malacothamnus enigmaticus

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|genus = Malacothamnus

|species = enigmaticus

|authority = K.Morse & T.Chester

}}

Malacothamnus enigmaticus is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name enigmatic bush-mallow. It is endemic to the Peninsular Ranges of California and Baja California, Mexico extending from the San Ysidro Mountains in the north to the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in the south. It was first collected in 1938 and described as a new species to science in 2019. Prior to 2019, it had been mistakenly assigned to Malacothamnus aboriginum and Malacothamnus densiflorus.Morse, K., and T. Chester. 2019. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336194696_MALACOTHAMNUS_ENIGMATICUS_MALVACEAE_A_NEW_RARE_SPECIES_FROM_THE_DESERT_EDGE_OF_THE_PENINSULAR_RANGE_IN_SAN_DIEGO_COUNTY_CA Malacothamnus enigmaticus (Malvaceae), a new rare species from the desert edge of the Peninsular Range in San Diego County, CA.] Madroño 66: 103–119.Morse, K. 2023. [https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23937066 Malacothamnus Volume 3: A Revised Treatment of the Genus Malacothamnus (Malvaceae) Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidence.]