Hibiscus superbus C.A.Gardner

Scientific Description

Shrub or tree, with hairy stems. Leaves 76-180 mm long, 30-45 mm wide, not lobed or palmately lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins serrate; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands present; stipules present and persistent to older leaves or present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves), 50 mm long. Perianth clearly of two whorls (calyx and corolla), the corolla obvious and prominent. Pedicel present, 18-25 mm long; indumentum present, with stellate hairs present, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) present, 10-12 mm long, the lobes free, indumentum present, stellate hairs presentwith scales absent, Sessile glands absent. Calyx green, 19-25 mm long, the lobes fused less than half their length, Sessile glands absent, simple hairs (without tubercle bases) present, stellate hairs present, tubercle-based simple hairs absent, gland-tipped hairs absent, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Corolla pink, 50-75 mm long, glabrous. Indumentum (outside) Sessile glands absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present, 0.8-1 mm long; anthers 1.1-1.5 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes absent, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs absent, stellate hairs present; style 1, 25-27 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) absent, 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 absent; calyx persistent to mature fruit; carpels 5; seeds per loculus 2-4. Flowering time February, March, April, May or June. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley and Central Kimberley.