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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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Hibiscus borbonicus Link Hibiscus calycinus Willd. Hibiscus calyphyllus var. grandiflorus De Wild. Hibiscus grandifolius Hochst. ex A.Rich. Hibiscus wildii Suess.
Common names:	Lemon Yellow Rosemallow (English)
Frequency:
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:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Feb - May
Worldwide distribution:	Saudi Arabia south through East, Central and Southern Africa as well as Reunion and Mauritius
FZ divisions:	SE
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 199. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 157. 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 Burundi: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of Caprivi: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of the DRC: Hibiscus calyphyllus
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus calyphyllus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hibiscus calyphyllus
African Plant Database: 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