Hibiscus calyphyllus Cav.

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Katanga Province, DRC
Apr 2008
Photo: Jos Stevens

Katanga Province, DRC
Mar 2008
Photo: Jos Stevens

Habit
Termitaria within Brachystegia woodland
Tondwa GMA, Nsama District
Mar 2024
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flower
Termitaria within Brachystegia woodland
Tondwa GMA, Nsama District
Mar 2024
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus borbonicus Link Hibiscus calycinus Willd. Hibiscus calyphyllus var. grandiflorus De Wild. Hibiscus grandifolius Hochst. ex A.Rich. Hibiscus wildii Suess.
Common names:
Frequency:	Local
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or perennial herb up to 3 m tall; stems tomentose or pubescent when young, later glabrescent. Leaf-lamina up to 12 × 12 cm, suborbicular in outline, obscurely or distinctly 3–5-lobed, stellate-pubescent or stellate-pilosulose above, stellate-pubescent or stellate-pilose or stellate-tomentose beneath, apex acute, margin serrate, base cordate or subcordate; petiole usually up to 9 (18) cm long, stellate-pilose; stipules up to 15 mm long, filiform or subsetaceous, somewhat expanded at the base. Flowers up to 12 cm in diam., yellow usually with a brownish or dark red centre, solitary, axillary; peduncle c. 7 (10) mm long, stellate-pubescent, usually rather inconspicuously articulated near the base. Epicalyx of 5 bracts, stellate-pubescent; bracts up to 18 mm long, varying greatly in shape but nearly always broadest near the middle then narrowed suddenly to a caudate tip which is a prolongation of the midrib, joined for 3–4 mm at the base. Calyx up to 16 mm long, stellate-tomentellous; lobes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, usually 3-nerved, joined to nearly half-way. Petals up to 6 × 4.5 cm, obliquely obovate, pubescent outside, glabrous within. Capsule 25 × 15 mm, ellipsoid; valves aristate. Seeds 3 × 2.5 mm, subreniform, tomentellous.
Type location:	Ethiopia
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	calyphyllus: with leaf-like calyx
Habitat:	Forest edges and glades, riverine forest, bushland, termitaria within Brachystegia woodland
Altitude range:	0 - 2600 m
Flowering time:	Feb - May
Worldwide distribution:	Saudi Arabia south through East, Central and Southern Africa as well as Reunion and Mauritius
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	B,N,W,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Nw,Cb,N,Lk,S
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:	Thursday 25 July 2024
Literature:	Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 199. (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 calyphyllus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of Burundi: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of Caprivi: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of the DRC: Hibiscus calyphyllus

External websites:

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