Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Subtropical woodland

Range

The Americas

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

This woody shrub grows in tropical forests from the southern United States to South America. Its vibrant red petals remain tightly curled to force hummingbirds to probe deep for nectar.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Malvales

Family

Malvaceae

Genus

Malvaviscus

Species

Malvaviscus arboreus