Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. tuberosus (Span.) Borss.Waalk.

Scientific Description

Herb or shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 15-80 mm long, 20-105 mm wide, palmately lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins crenate; hairy, with Simple hairs (without tubercle bases)with scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present and persistent to older leaves or present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves). Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 55-100 mm long; indumentum present, with simple hairs, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 15-23 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 20-25 mm long, the lobes fused half or more of their length, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs present, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla yellow or red, 47-52 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1-1.7 mm long; anthers 1-1.5 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 30-35 mm long, with one, four or five style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Fruits dehiscent (capsules and follicles), length-width ratio more or less as long as wide, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs present, Sessile glands absent, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent; apex rounded; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines present; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent; carpels 5; seeds per loculus 1. Flowering time February, May or December. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley.