Hibiscus micranthus L.f. var. micranthus

Hibiscus species are herbs, undershrubs or shrubs. Stems woody, branches densely or sparsely pubescent or tomentose with simple, scarbid or stellate hairs or glabrous. Leaves simple, palmilobed or palmiparted, alternate, midrib usually with obscure nectarines, 3 or more basal veins, margins crenate-dentate or entire, apex acute to acuminate, petiolate, stipules linear, subulate, ovate or foliaceous. Inflorescence usually axillary or terminal, solitary or racemes or lax panicles, by the reduction of the upper leaves. Flowers bisexual, pedicel slender, epicalyx 3 or more, base connate, rarely absent, calyx 5 lobed, distinctly nerved, campanulate, base connate, valvate, sometimes with nectarines, persistent, corolla showy and large, yellow, white, orange, purple, red, blue and dark colored at the base, campanulate or cylindric. Staminal column usually shorter or almost as long petals, base wide, filaments apex truncate or 5-dentate, anthers basifixed, throughout or in the upper half. Ovary superior, 5 locular, rarely up to 10 locular, axile placentation, ovules 3 or more per locule, style 1 or 5 branched distally, stigma discoid, capitate or not distinct. Fruit capsule, globose-cylindrical, apex apiculate, acute or acuminate, dehiscing loculicidally, glabrous or hairy. Seed many, reniform or subglobose, smooth, glabrous or hairy.

Hibiscus species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: August—March.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Undershrubs, about 0.5-1.5 m tall. Stems woody, branches slender, terete, pubescent or scarbid with simple stellate hairs. Leaves simple, alternate, broadly ovate-elliptic to rhomboid, about 2-4.5 x 1.5-4 cm across, base cuneate to rounded, midrib usually with obscure nectarines, margins serrate, apex acute to obtuse, scarbid with stellate hairs both above and beneath, petiole scarbid, about 5-20 mm long, stipules linear, filiform, about 3-13 mm long. Inflorescence usually axillary, solitary, by the reduction of the upper leaves. Flowers bisexual, pedicel slender, jointed above or below middle, up to 3.5 cm long, epicalyx 6-8, base connate, filiform, stiff, apex forked with one leaf lobe, about 2-4 mm long, calyx 5 lobed, distinctly nerved, campanulate, lobes broadly lanceolate, base connate, apex acute to acuminate, valvate, persistent, stellate hairy outside and inside towards apex, about 5 mm long, corolla showy, yellow, purplish white, campanulate, about 5-12 mm across, petals oblong, apex obtuse, glabrous inside, stellate pubescent outside, about 12 x 4 mm across. Staminal column about 5 mm long, anthers basifixed, throughout or in the upper half. Ovary superior, 5 locular, axile placentation. Fruit capsule, globose, about 1.5 cm across, apex acute, dehiscing loculicidally, into 5 valves, glossy inside, glabrous smooth outside. Seeds many, reniform, covered with somewhat whitish scales, blackish.

Hibiscus species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus and fungi, affecting leaves, fruits and roots.

Roadsides, near cultivated places and forests.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in folk medicine.