Hibiscus sparseaculeatus Baker f.

Malvaceae, Bernard Verdcourt & Geoffrey Mwachala. Pavonia, B Verdcourt; Kosteletzkya, OJ Blanchard Jr.; Gossypium, P Fryxell & B Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Type

Type: Somalia, Sheik Pass, Freemantle s.n. (BM!, holo.)

Habit

Shrub 1.2–5 m high.

Stem

Stems glabrous, pale brown, with a waxy appearance; prickles stout, 2–4 mm long, from shield-like base, sometimes 3-pronged or recurved

Leaves

Leaves circular to broadly ovate, 10–35 × 8–45 mm, sometimes slightly trilobed, apex obtuse to truncate, base obtuse to slightly cordate, margin entire, serrate or shallowly dentate, midrib often with prominent extra floral gland on underside at base, subtomentose to subscabrid; petiole 6–35 mm long, subtomentose; stipules lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 × 0.5–1 mm, sparsely hispid

Flowers

Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, pendulous; pedicel 7–10 mm long, articulated at base, tomentose and/or hispid; epicalyx of 7 or 8 narrowly triangular bracts, 5–12 × 0.3–0.5 mm, spreading, pubescent

Calyx

Sepals narrowly triangular, 7–8 × 1–4 mm, each with a nectary midway along its central vein

Corolla

Corolla yellow with brown or purple patch at base inside, 30–65 mm long, sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous inside.

Stamens

Staminal column 27–40 mm long; filaments 1 mm long; exserted part of style 4–7 mm long, glabrous or puberulous

Fruits

Capsule 15–17 mm long, 12–13 mm in diameter, setose.

Seeds

Seeds 4–5angular, 4–5 × 3 mm, with appressed ovate, truncate scales.

Ecology

Rocky slopes in deciduous woodland; 1000–1900 m

Distribution

Range: Ethiopia, Somalia Flora districts: K1 K3 K4 K7 T2 T3