Home | > | List of families | > | Malvaceae subfamily Malvoideae | > | Hibiscus | > | dongolensis |
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(s): | Perennial, shrub under 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 21 March 2012 |
Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 106. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. 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 Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 458 - 459. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 283. (Includes a picture). 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, South Africa Pages 412 - 413. (Includes a picture). 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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