Hibiscus caesius Garcke

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near the viewing platform, Masuma Dam, Hwange NP

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus gibsonii Stocks ex Harv. Hibiscus pentaphyllus F. Muell.
Common names:	Dark-eyed hibiscus (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrubby perennial herb, up to 2 m tall, sometimes slightly scrambling. Leaves deeply 3-5 lobed or palmately 3-5-foliolate, lobes/leaflets, up to 10 × 3 cm, stellate hairy mainly below; margin toothed; petiole up to 8 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary, up to 10 cm in diameter, creamy-yellow with a deep purple or reddish-brown centre. Bracts of epicalyx 7-9, 1.5-3.5 cm long, filiform, stiff and spine-like; margin with small spiny teeth. Capsule ovoid, c. 15 × 13 mm, sparsely covered in rough hairs. Seeds 5 × 3.5 mm, crescent-shaped, very minutely scaly.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	caesius: bluish-grey
Habitat:	In woodland and riverine vegetation.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):	Shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 24 March 2018
Literature:	Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 461 - 462. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 281. (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. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 71, plate 98 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 218.

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Flora of Caprivi: Hibiscus caesius
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Flora of Mozambique: Hibiscus caesius
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus caesius
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus caesius

External websites:

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