Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight

Scientific Description

Shrub. Stems hairy. Leaves 50-220 mm long, 45-130 mm wide, tripartitely lobed or palmately lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins crenate; indumentum present, with non-tubercle-based simple hairs, with 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. 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 present. Calyx green, 20-25 mm long, the lobes fused half or more of their length, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs present. Corolla white, red or pink, 30-35 mm long, glabrous. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 1 mm long; anthers 1.1 mm long. Ovary hairs and scales absent (ovary quite glabrous); style 1, 14 mm long, with four or five style branches or lobes, mostly glabrous. 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; apex rounded; calyx persistent to mature fruit; 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 or Ord-Victorian-Plain.