Hibiscus surattensis L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Hippo House, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Sune Holt
Munavalate, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Northeastern slopes, Mt Mabu

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Prostrate or scrambling annual herb, stems up to 3 m. Most parts with small reddish-brown, hooked prickles. Leaves variously 3-5 lobed, sometimes only shallowly so; margins coarsely toothed; leaf-like stipules conspicuous. Flowers large, solitary, axillary, yellow with a purple centre. The epicalyx has forked bracts, the inner branch linear, the outer branch spathulate. Capsule spherical-ovoid with acute apex.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In a variety of habitats, often in disturbed places.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Mar - May
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread throughout the Old World tropics.
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):	Climber, annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 5 October 2014
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 32. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 438. (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 61. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 81. (Includes a picture). Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 27. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 119. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 95.

Other sources of information about Hibiscus surattensis:

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Flora of Burundi: Hibiscus surattensis
Flora of Mozambique: Hibiscus surattensis
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus surattensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus surattensis

External websites:

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