Malvaviscus

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{automatic taxobox

|image = Malvaviscus penduliflorus at Aanakkulam.jpg

|image_caption = Malvaviscus penduliflorus

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Malvaviscus

|authority = Fabr.

|synonyms =

• Achania Sw.

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?7218 |title=Malvaviscus Fabr. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2007-03-12 |access-date=2010-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605235245/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?7218 |archive-date=2011-06-05 }}

|type_species = Malvaviscus arboreus

|type_species_authority = Cav.{{cite web |url=http://tropicos.org/NameDetails.aspx?nameid=40012956 |title=Malvaviscus Fabr. |work=TROPICOS |publisher=Missouri Botanical Database |access-date=2009-12-16}}

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = See text

}}

File:Malvaviscus.jpg)]]

Malvaviscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Common names for species in this genus include Turk's cap mallow, wax mallow, sleeping hibiscus, and mazapan. It belongs to a group of genera that differ from the closely related Hibiscus in possessing a fruit divided into 5 separate parts (a schizocarp), and having a style surmounted by 10, rather than 5, capitate or capitellate stigmas. Among those genera Malvaviscus is distinguished by having auriculate petals and red, fleshy fruits.

The generic name is derived from the Latin words malva, meaning "mallow," and viscus, which means "sticky," referring to the mucilaginous sap produced by members of the genus.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=692L-8HWiEsC |first=Horace F. |last=Clay |author2=James C. Hubbard |title=Tropical Shrubs |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-8248-1128-0 |page=104}}

The fruit can be used to make jelly or syrup. Both the fruit and flowers are used to make herbal teas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dirtdoctor.com/garden/Turks-Cap_vq542.htm|title=Dirt Doctor - Library Topics|website=www.dirtdoctor.com|accessdate=May 19, 2023}}