Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 50-220 mm long, 45-130 mm wide, tripartitely lobed or palmately lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins crenate; hairy, with Simple hairs (without tubercle bases), with tubercle-based simple hairs tubercle-based simple hairs; 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, 10-15 mm long; indumentum present, with simple hairs, with gland tipped hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 4-5 mm long, the lobes fused half or more of their length, indumentum present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs 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, tubercle-based simple hairs present, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla white, red or pink, 30-35 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1 mm long; anthers 1.1 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 14 mm long, with four or five style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous, wing absent. Fruits dehiscent (capsules and follicles), length-width ratio at least 1.5 times as long as wide, hairs or scales present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs absent, 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 absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit, not accrescent; carpels 5; seeds per loculus 2-4. Flowering time March, April, May, June or July. Distribution Botanical Province Northern or Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Tanami, North Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Dampierland and Ord-Victorian-Plain.