Malvaceae FAMILY
Malvastrum americanum
Malvastrum americanum
Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
HabitShrub
Growth—
A plant of the tropics and subtropics, in Puerto Rica it grows in areas with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 750 - 1,000mm[1]. Requires an open, sunny position[, tolerating light shade amongst trees692]. Succeeds in most soil types if they are well-drained[1]. The plant spreads easily by means of its small seeds. It has become an invasive weed in a number of countries outside of its native range[2]. Plants usually commence flowering when around 15cm tall and can flower and produce fruit all year round unless there is a dry season[1].
Propagation
Seed - Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Malvastrum+americanum>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Wildland Shrubs of the United States and its Territories: Thamnic Descriptions — Francis J.K. (Editor) · USDA; Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestr · 2000 · http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/wildland_shrubs.htm ↩︎An excellent series of papers, in PDF format, from various authors giving quite detailed information on a range of shrubs growing in the United States and its Territories. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
- [2]Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk — http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html ↩︎A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
- [3]Flowering Plants of Jamaica — Adams. C.D. · University of the West Indies; Jamaica. · 1972 ↩︎A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
- [4]Medicinal Plants of the Guianas — DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J. · Smithsonian Museum · http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html ↩︎A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
- [5]Welensali (Croton flavens): Folk Uses and Properties — Morton J.F. · 1971 · http://10.1007/BF02985212 ↩︎