Hibiscus dongolensis Delile

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Photo: Bart Wursten
At lay-by near Nyika, by Birchenough Bridge to Masvingo road

Photo: Bart Wursten
By road from Hwange NP to main Vic Falls-Bulawayo Rd, Matetsi Safari Area

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus lunarifolius Willd. var. dongolensis (Del.) Hochr.
Common names:	Dongola hibiscus (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust shrub-like herb, up to 2 m tall. Stems nearly hairless. Leaves ovate to ovate lanceolate, up to 10 × 7 cm, unlobed or rarely obscurely 3-5-lobed, nearly hairless except occasional hairs on the veins beneath; margin coarsely toothed. Petiole up to 6 cm long, usually hairless except for a longitudinal line of short soft hairs. Flowers solitary, axillary, c. 8 cm in diameter, yellow with a small dark centre, often drooping and not opening widely. Epicalyx bracts usually 5, very sxhort, up to 20 × 2 mm, lorate, nearly hairless, about as long as the calyx lobes. Calyx up to 20 mm long, nearly hairless; lobes lorate to caudate with a prominent central vein, joined at the base for up to c. 7 mm. Fruit a subglobose capsule, 15-20 mm in diameter, bristly stellate hairy, carpels awned up to 6 mm.
Notes:	This species is a declared weed in Zimbabwe because it is a known host of the moth Pectinophora gossypiella or Pink bollworm, a notorious pest on cotton crops.
Derivation of specific name:	dongolensis: of Dongola on the Nile in northern Sudan, where the type specimen was collected.
Habitat:	In open Acacia and mopane woodland and on alluvial soils in hot dry river valleys.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E,S
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 21 March 2012
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 83. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae FZ 1(2) Pages 458 - 459. Mapaura, A & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 60. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 75. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 74, plate 101 Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 286 - 287. (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, S Africa Pages 412 - 413. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Hibiscus dongolensis:

Flora of Mozambique: Hibiscus dongolensis
African Plant Database: Hibiscus dongolensis
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Hibiscus dongolensis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hibiscus dongolensis
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Hibiscus dongolensis
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Hibiscus dongolensis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Hibiscus dongolensis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hibiscus dongolensis
JSTOR Plant Science: Hibiscus dongolensis
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Hibiscus dongolensis
Tropicos: Hibiscus dongolensis
West African Plants database: Hibiscus dongolensis