Pavonia bahamensis

Pavonia bahamensis A. S. Hitchc.

Common Names: Bahamas Swamp Bush

Family: Malvaceae

Habit: Pavonia bahamensis grows as a glabrous large shrub to small tree to 4 m. in height.  The leaves are arranged alternately, to 9 cm long, ovate to orbicular, with an acute leaf apex, entire leaf margin, and cordate base.  There may be pubescence in the axils of primary veins on the abaxial surface.

The complete, perfect, zygomorphic flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The calyx has 5 green, fused, pubescent sepals forming a shallow cup. The corolla has 5 yellow to green, pubescent, fused petals. There are numerous stamens that are fused forming a tube around the style. The ovary is superior with 5 locules and numerous ovules.  The fruit is a woody capsule that is brown at maturity breaking apart rather than splitting along suture lines.

Habitat: Pavonia bahamensis grows in coastal Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Shrubland (coppice, scrubland) near and around wetland areas.

Distribution: Pavonia bahamensis is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago growing in the central and southern island groupings.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Pavonia bahamensis is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.