Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq.
subsp. rivularis (Bremek. & Oberm.) Exell

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Photo: Bart Wursten
National Botanic Garden, Harare

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Synonyms:	Hibiscus rivularis Bremek. & Oberm.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree, occasionally a large scrambling perennial herb, up to 10 m tall. Stems more or less densely stellate-hairy and armed with thick short spines. Leaves almost round in outline, up to 16 × 16 cm, more or less distinctly 3-7-lobed, stellate-hairy on both surfaces; base truncate to cordate, usually with fissured gland near the base of the midrib below; margin irregularly toothed. Flowers solitary, axillary or sometimes forming apparent terminal racemes, due to the absence of leaves, reddish-purple with a darker centre, 7-8 cm in diameter. Epicalyx bracts 7-8, 8-12 mm long densely stellate hairy, free. Calyx 2.5-3 cm long; lobes lanceolate, joined for c. 5 mm at the base and an elliptic gland on the midrib. Fruit a pointed ovate capsule, 20 × 15 mm, densely bristly.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	diversifolius: with diverse, variable leaves; rivularis: occurring near rivers.
Habitat:	In damp places along the margins of rivers and lakes
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, Caprivi-Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Growth form(s):	Tree, perennial, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. As Hibiscus diversifolius rivularis rivularis Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 702 - 703. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 259. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 443 - 444. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 60. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 84.

Other sources of information about Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis
Flora of Burundi: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis
Flora of Malawi: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis
Flora of Mozambique: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis
Flora of Zambia: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. rivularis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hibiscus diversifolius
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hibiscus diversifolius
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hibiscus diversifolius
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hibiscus diversifolius
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hibiscus diversifolius
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hibiscus diversifolius
JSTOR Plant Science: Hibiscus diversifolius
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hibiscus diversifolius
Plants of the World Online: Hibiscus diversifolius
Tropicos: Hibiscus diversifolius
Wikipedia: Hibiscus diversifolius