Malvaceae
Hibiscus

Hibiscus altissimus Hornby

First published in Proc. & Trans. Rhodesia Sci. Assoc. 41: 55 (1946)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique to S. Africa. It is a scrambling shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

Malvaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit
A woody scrambler over bushes; stems nearly 10m. long, aculeate with prickles recurved and swollen at the base, otherwise nearly glabrous or with longitudinal lines or areas of crisped pubescence.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-lamina 3–12 × 2–15 cm., ovate to broadly suborbicular in outline, usually nearly glabrous except for prickles on the nerves of the under surface but sometimes fairly densely stellate-pubescent (Pedro & Pedrógão 4057), usually 3–5-lobed (rarely not lobed), lobes acute, margin irregularly serrate, sinuses acute, base 5–7-nerved, midrib (and often the 2 adjacent nerves) with a longitudinal fissure up to 3 mm. long near the base; petiole up to 7·5 cm. long, hairy like the young stems; stipules 6–7 mm. long, acicular or filiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers up to 10 cm. in diam., yellow or terracotta, sometimes with a dark centre, solitary, axillary; peduncle 1–6 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Epicalyx
Epicalyx of about 7 bracts; bracts c. 15 mm. long, forked, the outer branch somewhat reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 2–3 cm. long; lobes 13–22 × 6–10 mm., lanceolate, acute, joined at the base for 4–10 mm., setose on the midrib and margins, transversely ribbed in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals up to 6 × 5 cm., obovate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Staminal tube c. 14 mm. long; free parts of filaments 0·5–1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style-branches 4–5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 20 × 18 mm., densely appressed-setose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 4 × 3 mm., subreniform, with whitish irregularly discoid scales 0·1–0·2 mm. in diam.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0