HIBISCUS aristivalvisGarcke [family MALVACEAE], (1849, as “aristaevalvis”.
Information
Prostrate to erect annual or perennial herb; stems hispid and with a longitudinal line of crisped hairs. Leaves sparsely hispid mainly on the nerves, with petiole 1.5–7 cm long; blade deeply 3–5-lobed or divided, 1.5–12 x 2–16 cm, cordate at the base; lobes linear to narrowly ovate, rounded at the apex, with entire to irregularly dentate or incised margins. Flowers in leaf axils; pedicels 0.5–2 cm long, articulated near the base. Epicalyx bracts c. 8, c. 12–15 mm long, linear. Calyx 8–15 mm long; lobes triangular, 3-nerved. Petals 1.5–2.5 cm long, pale yellow or yellow, sometimes with a reddish base. Staminal tube 6–10 mm long. Capsule at maturity separating from receptacle and disintegrating, 6–9 mm long, subglobose, sparsely pubescent; valves with 1–3 mm long awns. Seeds c. 2.5 mm long, appressed pubescent.
Range
N1; C2; S2, 3 widespread in tropical and southern Africa, and in Arabia and India.
Altitude range
35–300 m.
Distribution
SOMALIA Terry 3459; Gillett & al. 25005; Drake-Brockman 1067.