Home | > | List of families | > | Malvaceae subfamily Malvoideae | > | Hibiscus | > | diversifolius |
Synonyms: |
Hibiscus rivularis Bremek. & Oberm. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Shrub or small tree, occasionally a large scrambling perennial herb, up to 10 m tall. Stems more or less densely stellate-hairy and armed with thick short spines. Leaves almost round in outline, up to 16 × 16 cm, more or less distinctly 3-7-lobed, stellate-hairy on both surfaces; base truncate to cordate, usually with fissured gland near the base of the midrib below; margin irregularly toothed. Flowers solitary, axillary or sometimes forming apparent terminal racemes, due to the absence of leaves, reddish-purple with a darker centre, 7-8 cm in diameter. Epicalyx bracts 7-8, 8-12 mm long densely stellate hairy, free. Calyx 2.5-3 cm long; lobes lanceolate, joined for c. 5 mm at the base and an elliptic gland on the midrib. Fruit a pointed ovate capsule, 20 × 15 mm, densely bristly. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | diversifolius: with diverse, variable leaves; rivularis: occurring near rivers. |
Habitat: | In damp places along the margins of rivers and lakes |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Botswana, Caprivi-Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E |
Growth form(s): | Tree, perennial, shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 25 May 2009 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. As Hibiscus diversifolius rivularis rivularis Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 702 - 703. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 259. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 443 - 444. 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. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84. |
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