Hibiscus minutibracteolus F.D.Wilson

Scientific Description

Shrub, with hairy stems. Leaves 30-50 mm long, 15-40 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire; hairy, with Simple hairs (without tubercle bases), 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), 12-15 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 5-6 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 3-4 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 18-26 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, 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 pink, 52-70 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 0.7-1 mm long; anthers 0.8-1.5 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs present, stellate hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent; style 1, 23-28 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 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, 20-25 mm long, accrescent; seeds per loculus ≥5. Flowering time January, February, May, June or July. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley. Conservation Code Priority One (P1).