| Synonyms: | 
Hibiscus leptocalyx Sond.  Pavonia discolor Ulbr. Pavonia fruticulosa Ulbr.  | 
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native | 
| Description: | 
A low spreading to erect perennial, 20-90 cm high, often branching from the base. Leaves generally ovate, 1-6 cm long,sometimes angular or slightly 3-lobed, rounded or somewhat cordate at the base, dark green and sparsely stellate hairy above, more densely whitish to greyish stellate hairy beneath; margin irregularly and coarsely toothed to almost entire.Flowers solitary, axillary, white to very pale pinkish. Epicalyx bracts 9-11, filiform to narrowly linear, forming a cage particularly around the buds and the fruit. Petals 16-18 mm long. | 
| Type location: | 
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | 
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In coastal forest and scrub on sandy and loamy alluvial soils. Also in woodland and riverine areas, usually in gravelly soils and in semi-shade. | 
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1000 m | 
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. | 
| FZ divisions: | N,GI,M | 
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species | 
| Images last updated: | Wednesday 4 February 2015 | 
| Literature: | 
 Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 505 - 506. 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 61. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture). Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 27. Verdcourt, B. & Mwachala, G.M. (2009). Malvaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Page 23.  |