Home | > | List of families | > | Malvaceae subfamily Malvoideae | > | Hibiscus | > | rhodanthus |
Synonyms: |
Hibiscus carsonii Baker Hibiscus micranthus L.f. var. sanguineus (Franch.) Hochr. |
Common names: | Dwarf red hibiscus (English) Poppy hibiscus (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb, often only a few cm high, growing from a woody rootstock. Stems covered in stellate hairs. Leaves oblong or oblong-elliptic, stellate hairy; margins with spaced teeth. Flowers solitary, axillary, bright red, 2.5-4 cm in diameter, often appearing as terminal panicles by reduction of the upper leaves. Epicalyx of 6-7 bracts, 1-4 mm long, linear. Calyx up to 8 mm. Fruit a subspherical capsule, usually densely pubescent. Seeds with a white silky floss. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | rhodanthus: red-flowered |
Habitat: | In open Brachystegia woodland and grassland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1100 - 1600 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | From DRC and Tanzania, South to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C |
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: | Thursday 21 February 2013 |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 94 - 95. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 204. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 457. 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. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 76, plate 103 |
Home | > | List of families | > | Malvaceae subfamily Malvoideae | > | Hibiscus | > | rhodanthus |