Hibiscus stewartii Craven, F.D.Wilson & Fryxell

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 54-150 mm long, 35-100 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 20-30 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 15-18 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 9-10 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 15-20 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs absent, tubercle-based simple hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla pink, 60-65 mm long, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1-1.2 mm long; anthers 1.2-1.4 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 20 mm long, with five style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Flowering time May. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley. Conservation Code Priority Three (P3).