Hibiscus surattensis L.

Hibiscus surattensis is an annual plant, more or less lianescent, with creeping stems, reaching 2 m in length, having curved and sharp thorns. The leaves are variable in shape, small and whole, oval, with 3-5 large tines, towards the base of the stems, but often deeply cut into 3-5 lobes, with serrated margin and thorny veins on the underside. Long and wide of 3-8 cm, they are carried by a spiny petiole, about 1.5 times longer than the lamina. At the base of the petiole are oval stipules, auriculate at the base, 1 to 1.5 cm long. The flowers are held by a thorny stem, 6 to 8 cm long. They contain an epicalyx of 10-12 spatulate lobes. They have a very widely open corolla, about 8 cm wide, yellow with dark purple center. The fruit is a whitish capsule, surrounded by fine, well cut, thorny parts.
 
Cotyledons

The cotyledons are widely spatulate, with truncated apex and slightly coradte base. They are carried by a petiole almost as long as the lamina. Lamina 1.5 to 2 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm wide. It  has three whitish veins at the base.
 
First leaves

The first leaves are simple and alternate, long-stalked. The leaf blade is entire, largely oval, with 3 or 5 wide tines. Base rounded or cordate and wedged apex. They are bright green in colour.
 
General habit

Annual plant, more or less lianescent, reaching 2 m high, with retrorse, curved, sharp thorns.
 
Underground system

Taproot system.
 
Stem

The stem is round and full, green and purple in colour, armed with retrorse, curved, sharp spines. It is finely hairy. It branches at the insertion of the leaves.
 
Leaf

The leaves are simple and alternate, spiny; carried by a petiole up to 1.5 times longer than the leaf blade. Petiole framed at the base by 2 oval stipules with ciliated and coarsely serrated margin, auriculate at the base, 1 to 1.5 cm long. Lamina of variable form. At the base of the stems, the lamina is entire, largely oval in shape, with cordate base, showing rapidly 3 large angles. . While growing, the lamina becomes more or less deeply 3-5 lobed, 3 to 8 cm long and wide. Margin serrated. The blade is finely puberulent on both sides. Venation is palmate with 3-5 main veins emerging from the base. On the underside, the veins have retrorse sharp thorns.
 
Inflorescence

The flowers are solitary, arranged in the leaf axils.
 
Flower

The flower is carried by a long peduncle, 6 to 8 cm. It comprises of an epicalyx of 10-12 spatulate lobes, 1.5 to 2 cm long, bearing a ligule set at right angles, linear, 5 to 10 mm long, provided with stiff bristles. Calyxe about 2 cm long, deeply divided into 5 acute triangular tough lobes,  with stiff bristles on the margin and the midrib, accrescent, more or less tinged with purple. The corolla is widely spread, yellow with dark purple center, more or less 8 cm large. It consists of five broadly obovate petals, 3 to 4 cm at the largest width. Staminal column of about 2 cm Long, with numerous staggered anthers, globular, yellow, carried by red lines, and at the end is a yellow style which is divided into 5 red globular and very hairy stigmas.
 
Fruit

The fruit is a pyriform capsule, 1.5 to 2 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, white, covered with appressed bristles surrounded by the persistent calyx. The capsule consists of 5 loculus each containing 5 seeds.
 
Seed

The seed is kidney-shaped, thickened on the rear, 3 mm long and 2 mm wide. Seed coat dark brown, finely punctuated and dotted with small paler tubers.