Synonyms are M. arboreus var. cubensis and M. arboreus var. mexicanus.
Common names include Turk’s Cap and Sleeping Hibiscus.
Naturalised in S. E. Queensland it is listed as an invasive species and environmental weed in some areas.
Malvaviscus arboreus var. arboreus is almost identical to the species plant.
It is a variable variety of a variable species in a variable genus.
Both have similar features with differences appearing to be minimal and subjective.
These include the size, amount and stiffness of the stellate hairs, the number of their arms as well as flower length).
Both can occasionally have pink or white flowers among the mostly red ones.
JF.
