Hibiscus pusillus Thunb.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Umguza Nature Reserve, Bulawayo.

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus atromarginatus Eckl. & Zeyh. Hibiscus gossypinus Thunb.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb, 5-30 cm high with annual, more or less prostrate to ascending shoots growing from a woody rootstock. Stems rough with stellate hairs. Leaves elliptic to almost circular in outline, 5-6 cm long, very variable from unlobed to very deeply 3-5-lobed almost to the base; lobes more or less narrowly elliptic, often sharply pinnately lobed or toothed, hairless or with rough hairs; margin often purple-edged; petiole 2-15 mm long. ; stipules 5-7 mm long, softly needle-like. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow with a dark purple-maroon centre, rarely pink, up to 6 cm in diameter; peduncle 1.5-12 cm long. Epicalyx bracts 8-11, needle-like, 3-12 mm long. Calyx lobes up to 25 mm long, narrowly lanceolate-triangular, pointed. Capsule 10-12 mm long, rough-hairy on the valves. Seeds embedded in white, brownish or reddish silky floss.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	pusillus: insignificant, small, weak
Habitat:	In mopane and Acacia woodland and among rocks.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 17 February 2016
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. 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 84. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 448. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 254 - 255. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 203. (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. 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). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Hibiscus pusillus:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Hibiscus pusillus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus pusillus

External websites:

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