Volume 14 > Part 2 > Year 2019 > Page 299 > Malvaceae > Hibiscus

10. Hibiscus lobatus (Murray) Kuntzewfo-0000722748

Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 19. 1898; Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 158. 1925; Hochr. in Fl. Madag. fam. 129: 42, t. 12, f. 1–3. 1955; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 429. 1963; Borss.Waalk., Blumea 14(1): 77. 1966; Sivar. & Pradeep, Malvaceae S. Penins. India: 125. 1996; Y.Tang et al. in C.Y. Wu et al., Fl. China 12: 294. 2007.— Solandra lobata Murray, Commentat. Soc. Regiae Sci. Gott. 6: 20, t. 1. 1785; Mast. in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 336. 1874. Fig. 9. Plate XXVIII: E–F.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Annual herb 20–150 cm tall; stem erect, densely covered with short simple hairs, rarely with stellate hairs. Leaves broadly ovate, 3–10 by 3–7 cm, shallowly to deeply 3-lobed, base cordate or rounded, apex acute to acuminate, margin irregularly serrate to crenate, ciliate, upper surface covered with short simple hairs, lower surface with simple hairs and scattered stellate hairs; basal veins 3–5. Petiole 2–8 cm long, slender, simple hairy. Stipules linear to filiform, 2–3 mm long, ciliate. Flower axillary, solitary, or forming terminal raceme-like inflorescences by reduction of upper leaves. Peduncle 1–3 cm long, articulated near apex. Epicalyx reduced. Calyx campanulate, 5–8 mm in diam.; calyx tube 2–4 mm long; lobes triangular, 4–5 by 1–2 mm, apex acute, dull red, 3-nerved, simple hairy on both surfaces, ciliate. Corolla white or pale pink, 2–2.5 cm in diam. Petals obovate, 6–10 by 3–4 mm, glabrous. Staminal column 5–8 mm long, apex 5-toothed, glabrous, filaments 0.5–1 mm long, anthers ca 0.25 mm long, throughout the column. Ovary ovoid, 3–3.5 mm long, with minute glandular hairs; stylar branches 1–2 mm long, glabrous; stigmas capitate, pale pink, hairy. Capsule ovoid, 1.2–1.5 cm long, apex beaked, subtended by persistent calyx, outer surface with simple and stellate hairs, inner surface glabrous, 5-valved. Seeds 6–8 in each locule, trigonous with rounded angles, 1–2 mm in diam., laxly appressed short hairy, black when mature.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son (Pang Ma Pha), Tak (Bhumiphol Dam), Nakhon Sawan; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Phu Kradueng), Khon Kaen (Chum Phae); EASTERN: Chaiyaphum; SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi (Si Sawat, Ban Sadao), Phetchaburi (Cha-am), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Khao Sam Roi Yot); CENTRAL: Lop Buri (Chai Badan), Saraburi (Muak Lek); SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachinburi (Khao Yai), Chon Buri (Si Racha).

Distribution : Semi-arid parts of tropical Africa, Madagascar and adjacent islands, SE Asia.

Ecology : In evergreen forests, along streams, edges of evergreen forests on rocky areas, dry evergreen forests on granitic ground in bamboo thickets, in semi-evergreen forests, dry dipterocarp forests, in mixed deciduous forests, on limestone hills, 100–900 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: July–January.

Vernacular : Ya pradap din (หญ้าประดับดิน).