Home | > | List of families | > | Malvaceae subfamily Malvoideae | > | Hibiscus | > | pusillus |
Synonyms: |
Hibiscus atromarginatus Eckl. & Zeyh. Hibiscus gossypinus Thunb. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb, 5-30 cm high with annual, more or less prostrate to ascending shoots growing from a woody rootstock. Stems rough with stellate hairs. Leaves elliptic to almost circular in outline, 5-6 cm long, very variable from unlobed to very deeply 3-5-lobed almost to the base; lobes more or less narrowly elliptic, often sharply pinnately lobed or toothed, hairless or with rough hairs; margin often purple-edged; petiole 2-15 mm long. ; stipules 5-7 mm long, softly needle-like. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow with a dark purple-maroon centre, rarely pink, up to 6 cm in diameter; peduncle 1.5-12 cm long. Epicalyx bracts 8-11, needle-like, 3-12 mm long. Calyx lobes up to 25 mm long, narrowly lanceolate-triangular, pointed. Capsule 10-12 mm long, rough-hairy on the valves. Seeds embedded in white, brownish or reddish silky floss. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | pusillus: insignificant, small, weak |
Habitat: | In mopane and Acacia woodland and among rocks. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Perennial. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 17 February 2016 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. 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 84. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 448. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 254 - 255. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 203. (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. 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). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture). |
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