Hibiscus physaloides Guill. & Perr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mount Gorongosa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhago Camp, Coutada 12

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sanctuary, Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus variabilis Garcke
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Annual herb, up to 2 m high, with somewhat irritant hairs on the stems. Leaves variously 3-7-lobed, stellate hairy on both surfaces with distinct chalk-like fragments on the undersurface near the base; apex pointed; margin irregularly crenate or dentate. Flowers c. 9 cm in diameter solitary, axillary, yellow with a dark purple-red centre. Epicalyx of 7-10 bracts, filiform, 6-10 mm long. Calyx with ovate-elliptic lobes up to 20 mm long, hairy, joined at the base for 3-6 mm. Capsule, ovoid, c. 15 × 10 mm.
Type location:	Senegambia
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	On dry stony ground in places of old cultivation and disturbed areas.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa, Madagascar and Seychelles.
National distribution:	N,Z,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):	Annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Friday 29 April 2016
Literature:	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. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 464 - 465. (Includes a picture). 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.

Other sources of information about Hibiscus physaloides:

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Flora of Malawi: Hibiscus physaloides
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus physaloides
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus physaloides

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hibiscus physaloides
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hibiscus physaloides
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hibiscus physaloides
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hibiscus physaloides
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hibiscus physaloides
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hibiscus physaloides
JSTOR Plant Science: Hibiscus physaloides
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hibiscus physaloides
Plants of the World Online: Hibiscus physaloides
Tropicos: Hibiscus physaloides
Wikipedia: Hibiscus physaloides