Thespesia grandiflora

Maga
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Gossypieae
Genus: Thespesia
Species: T. grandiflora
Binomial name
Thespesia grandiflora
DC.[1]
Synonyms

Montezuma speciosissima[2]

Thespesia grandiflora is a tree in the Malvaceae family of the Rosids order.[2] Its English common name is maga.[2] This tree is widely distributed throughout Puerto Rico where it is endemic.[3] Its Spanish common name in Puerto Rico is maga[4] Although originally endemic to the humid mountains of limestone in the western and north-central portions of the Island, today it grows everywhere in Puerto Rico due to its extensive cultivation.[5] It is also grown as an ornamental tree in Florida, Hawaii, Honduras and in various Caribbean islands.[5] The maga is used as an ornamental plant, but the wood of the tree itself is valued elsewhere for its durable timber.[5]

Flower

The flower of the tree, known as flor de maga, is the official national flower of Puerto Rico. The flower itself is very beautiful and is sometimes called a hibiscus in English, although it belongs to a different tribe, genus, and species from the true hibiscus.

Growth

The maga tree usually grows no larger than 20 meters.[5] It is grown for timber and as an ornamental plant.

See also

References

  1. Thespesia grandiflora DC. Germplasm Resources Information Network. 2 December 1998. Accessed 31 March 2009
  2. 1 2 3 Thespesia grandiflora DC. ITIS Standard Reports. Taxonomic Serial No.: 21764. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 5 September 2013.
  3. Thespesia grandiflora DC. (maga). USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. La Reforestacion Gubernamental en Puerto Rico. Frank H. Wadsworth. Instituto Internacional de Dasonomía Tropical. U.S. Forest Service. Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. {Acta Científica 22(1-3), 105-113, 2008.} Page 105. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Thespesia grandiflora (DC.) Urban. John K. Francis. USDA. Forest Service. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

Bibliography

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