Thespesia grandiflora is a tree in the family Malvaceae of the rosids clade.[2] Its common name is maga.[2] This tree is widely distributed throughout Puerto Rico where it is endemic.[3][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 mostly used as an ornamental plant, but like the related Thespesia populnea its wood is also valued for its durable timber.[5] The flower was declared the national symbol of Puerto Rico on August 7, 2019.[6][7]
The flower of the tree, known as Flor de Maga, is the official national flower of Puerto Rico.[8] It is sometimes called a hibiscus in English, although it belongs to a different genus and species from the true hibiscus, and is more closely related to Cotton.
The maga tree usually grows no larger than 20 meters.[5] It is grown for timber and as an ornamental plant.
Thespesia grandiflora is a tree in the family Malvaceae of the rosids clade. Its common name is maga. This tree is widely distributed throughout Puerto Rico where it is endemic. 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. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in Florida, Hawaii, Honduras and in various Caribbean islands. The maga is mostly used as an ornamental plant, but like the related Thespesia populnea its wood is also valued for its durable timber. The flower was declared the national symbol of Puerto Rico on August 7, 2019.
