Thespesia grandiflora, most commonly known as Maga, and also referred to as Maga Colorada ("Red Maga") and Puerto Rican hibiscus,[2] is a tree in the family Malvaceae of the rosids clade[2] endemic to Puerto Rico, where its flower is officially recognized as the national flower of the archipelago.[3][4][5][6] Although originally native to the humid mountains of limestone in the western and north-central portions of Puerto Rico, today it grows everywhere in the archipelago due to its extensive cultivation.[7] It is also grown as an ornamental tree in Florida, Hawaii, Honduras and various Caribbean islands.[7] The maga is mostly used as an ornamental plant, but like the related Thespesia populnea its wood is also valued for its durable timber.[7]
Maga | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Genus: | Thespesia |
Species: | T. grandiflora
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Binomial name | |
Thespesia grandiflora | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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The flower of the tree, known as Flor de Maga, is the official national flower of Puerto Rico.[8] Though this species is contained within the same family as Hibiscus and may sometimes be referred to as such in English, truly it belongs to a different genus and species from true hibiscus, and is more closely related to Cotton.
The maga tree usually grows no larger than 20 meters.[7] It is grown for timber and as an ornamental plant.
Endemic frog species to Puerto Rico: Common Coqui