Hibiscus dongolensis Delile

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Photo: Bart Wursten
At lay-by near Nyika, by Birchenough Bridge to Masvingo road

Photo: Bart Wursten
By road from Hwange NP to main Vic Falls-Bulawayo Rd, Matetsi Safari Area

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus lunarifolius Willd. var. dongolensis (Del.) Hochr.
Common names:	Dongola hibiscus (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust shrub-like herb, up to 2 m tall. Stems nearly hairless. Leaves ovate to ovate lanceolate, up to 10 × 7 cm, unlobed or rarely obscurely 3-5-lobed, nearly hairless except occasional hairs on the veins beneath; margin coarsely toothed. Petiole up to 6 cm long, usually hairless except for a longitudinal line of short soft hairs. Flowers solitary, axillary, c. 8 cm in diameter, yellow with a small dark centre, often drooping and not opening widely. Epicalyx bracts usually 5, very sxhort, up to 20 × 2 mm, lorate, nearly hairless, about as long as the calyx lobes. Calyx up to 20 mm long, nearly hairless; lobes lorate to caudate with a prominent central vein, joined at the base for up to c. 7 mm. Fruit a subglobose capsule, 15-20 mm in diameter, bristly stellate hairy, carpels awned up to 6 mm.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	dongolensis: of Dongola on the Nile in northern Sudan, where the type specimen was collected.
Habitat:	In open Acacia and mopane woodland and on alluvial soils in hot dry river valleys.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa and South Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N
Growth form(s):	Perennial, shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 106. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 83. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 458 - 459. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 283. (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. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 75. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 74, plate 101 Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 286 - 287. (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 412 - 413. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84.

Other sources of information about Hibiscus dongolensis:

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

External websites:

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