Hibiscus shirensis Sprague & Hutch.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba rd before Westway.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhabawa Village, lower Chimanimani Mts

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus heterochlamys Ulbr.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust perennial herb or shrub, up to 2-4 m. Stems covered in 2 kinds of stellate hairs. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, more or less 3-lobed, stellate hairy on both surfaces, 5-7-veined; margins irregularly serrate. Flowers solitary, axillary, bright red, 2-3 cm in diameter. Epicalyx of 6-8 bracts, up to 7 mm long, filiform to linear, silvery-green, particularly when dried. Calyx 8-14 mm, narrowly lanceolate, velvety hairy. Fruit a subspherical capsule, puberulous. Seeds with long white silky hairs.
Type location:	Malawi
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	shirensis: of the Shire River in southern Malawi
Habitat:	In hot Brachystegia woodland, secondary thickets and cultivated land.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1450 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	from DRC and Tanzania, South to Zimbabwe and Mozambique
FZ divisions:	N,Z,MS
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:	Monday 12 September 2011
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 94 - 95. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 32. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 450 - 451. (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

Other sources of information about Hibiscus shirensis:

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Flora of Malawi: Hibiscus shirensis
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus shirensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus shirensis

External websites:

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