Hibiscus ovalifolius (Forssk.) Vahl

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrubby herb or shrub, up to 2 m or more tall, subglabrous to tomentose

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole 0.5–11 cm long; blade ovate or orbicular, sometimes shallowly 3-lobed, 2–14.5 x 1.5–15 cm, rounded to subcordate at the base, acute to rounded at the apex, with serrate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in leaf axils; pedicels 0.3–3 cm long, articulated at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Epicalyx

Epicalyx bracts 5, 10–30 x 3–11 mm, ± broadly lanceolate-acuminate, 5–9-veined

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 10–20 mm long; lobes ovate, central nerve about as strong as and often anastomosing with the two laterals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 3–7 cm long, yellow with maroon base; column 12–22 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 10–20 mm long, subglobose, shorter than and enclosed by calyx, glabrous or puberulous, with acute valves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3–4 mm long, puberulous.

Distribution

N1; C2; S1 widespread in tropical Africa, Yemen

Ecology

Altitude range 400–1500 m.

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: Ethiopia, Tigray, Petit 320 (P, holo.; K! iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Suffrutex 0.5–3 m tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems sparsely to densely stellate-pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate in outline or shallowly 3-lobed, 3–13 × 3–13 cm, apex rounded or obtuse, if lobed, the apices of the lobes also rounded or obtuse, base cuneate, truncate or shallowly cordate, margin serrate, sparsely pubescent-hispid above, densely so below; petiole 2.5–8 cm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; stipules linear or filiform, 8–16 × 1–2 mm, tapering to a fine tip, glabrous, pubescent or hispid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary in leaf axils; pedicel 1.2–2.5 cm long, articulated at base, sparsely to densely pubescent, hispid or not; epicalyx of 5 ovate to linear to linear-lanceolate bracts, widest above the base, 10–27 × 2–6 mm, sparsely to densely stellate-pubescent; calyx lobes triangular to ovate, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm, stellate-pubescent, hispid or not, chartaceous or foliose, enlarging in fruit and completely enclosing the capsule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow with maroon patch at base, 4.5–7 cm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal column 1.0–1.8 cm long; filaments 3–4 mm long; exserted part of style 4–6 mm long, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ovoid, 17 mm long, 12 mm diameter, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, enclosed in the calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale brown, reniform, 3 × 2 mm, tomentose, with hyaline setae around the hilum

Figures

Fig 10: 1–5, p 62

Ecology

Forest, woodland, bushland, scrub, grassland; 500–2300 m

Distribution

Flora districts: U1 U3 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T7 Range: Ethiopia