Abelmoschus ficulneus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Malvales

Familia: Malvaceae
Subfamilia: Malvoideae
Tribus: Hibisceae
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species: Abelmoschus ficulneus
Name

Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. ex Wight (1834)
Synonyms

Basionym
Hibiscus ficulneus L., Sp. Pl. 2: 695. 1753.

Heterotypic
Abelmoschus alborubens Benth., Fl. Austral. 1: 209. 1863, orth. var.
Abelmoschus albo-ruber F.Muell., Fragm. 1(4): 67. 1859.
Abelmoschus ficulneus var. albo-ruber (F.Muell.) Domin.
Abelmoschus strictus Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. 119. 1845.
Hibiscus prostratus Roxb., Hort. Bengal. 52. 1814, nom. inval.
Hibiscus prostratus Roxb., Fl. Ind. 3: 208. 1832.
Hibiscus sinuatus Cav., Diss. 3: 147. 1787.
Hibiscus strictus Roxb., Hort. Bengal. 52. 1814, nom. inval.
Hibiscus strictus Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Roxburgh) 3: 206. 1832.
Laguna aculeata Cav., Diss. 3: 173. t. 71. f. 1. 1787.
Laguna angulata G.Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 505. 1831.
Laguna sinuata Hornem., Hort. Bot. Hafn. 2: 645. 1815.

References

Wight, R. in Wight, R. & Arnott, G.A.W. 1834. Prodromus Florae Peninsulae Indiae Orientalis 53.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Abelmoschus ficulneus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Abelmoschus ficulneus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Abelmoschus, family Malvaceae. Commonly known as white wild musk mallow or native rosella, it is fibrous perennial with a woody stem. Its flowers are about an inch in diameter, either pink or white, with a rose center;[1] its leaves are palmate.[2]

The species grows as a small erect shrub, 2 to 5 ft (1 to 2 m) tall and 2 to 6 ft (1 to 2 m) across. Leaves are 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long and 4 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) wide, with a circular shape (heart-shaped near base). Leaves are rough on both sides, toothed, and have 3 to 5 lobes. Flower stock are covered in velvety hair, and the flowers themselves are 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) across. The stocks are short and colored white to pink with a dark purple center. Flowers last a few days. The plant has small hairs which may cause irritation.[2] The plant's seed heads are hairy and sticky, ovalar in shape and 2.5–4 cm (1–2 in) long and 1.3–2 cm (1–1 in) wide, with five ribs and a short beak. Seeds that are still in their growth period are medium to dark green, and when they are mature they turn dark brown, and split into five parts to release 10 to 20 brown to black spherical seeds, covered in tiny hairs.[3]

Abelmoschus ficulneus germinates in the spring and summer months, after the effects of rainfall and irrigation have set in. The plant grows rapidly over spring and summer several months after emergence, through autumn. Mature seeds are produced within a month of flowering in the late summer and autumn seasons.[3]

The species is native to north and east Africa, Madagascar, Indomalaya and Northern Australia, where it has become a common crop weed, particularly in cotton.[1][2][3]

References

"Abelmoschus ficulneus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 29 July 2010.
"White Wild Musk Mallow". Flowers of India. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
"Native rosella". Cotton Catchment Communities. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2010.