Hibiscus geranioides Benth.

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 50-80 mm long, 7-20 mm wide, not lobed or tripartitely lobed, complexly (twice-)lobed; margins sinuate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present and persistent to older leaves or present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 6-10 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 20-26 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 6-12 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs present, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 13-14 mm long, the lobes free, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) absent, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla white or pink, 23-25 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1.6-2 mm long; anthers 0.6-0.8 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs present, stellate hairs absent; style 1, 11-12 mm long, with 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 absent, Sessile glands present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent; apex distinctly flat-topped; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit, 15 mm long, accrescent; seeds per loculus 2-4. Flowering time January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province Northern or Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Great Sandy Desert, North Kimberley, Central Kimberley and Dampierland.