Hibiscus aethiopicus L.

Perennial herb, 0.05-0.45 high; stems upright or prostrate-ascending; stellate-hispid. Leaves narrowly elliptic (var. angustifolius), lanceolate (var. ovatus), ovate, obovate or subcircular (var. aethiopicus); entire or toothed near apex; from nearly glabrous to densely stellate-hispid. Flowers axillary, solitary; peduncles up to 45 mm long, articulated ± 5 mm below apex. Epicalyx of 7-9 bracts, up to 16 mm long, linear-oblong. Calyx lobes lanceolate, joined at base, hispid along margins. Petals obovate, bright yellow (var. aethiopicus), pale yellow, cream-coloured, white or purple (var. ovatus). Staminal tube 8-12 mm long; filaments 0.5-1.0 mm long. Flowering time Nov.-May. Fruit a subglobose capsule, sparsely hispid. Seeds subreniform, tomentellous.