Hibiscus

Scientific name

Hibiscus L.

Common names

swamp rosemallow, water hibiscus, mahoe

Family

Malvaceae

Similar genera

Not easily confused with any other genus, especially when flowering. Members of Saururaceae have a similar leaf shape.

Native distribution

tropical to temperatetemperate:
(adj) of the climatic zone between boreal and tropical
regions of the world

Species cultivated

Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex. Hiern.

H. coccineus Walter [synonym of Malvaviscus arboreus Cav.]

H. moscheutos L.

H. tiliaceus L.

H. trionum L.

Adventive distribution

Many species and cultivars are grown around the world as ornamentals.

Hibiscus acetosella and H. tilliaceus are introduced into the United States.

H. trionum is naturalized in several parts of the New World.

Weed status

Hibiscus trionum is is considered a weed in several countries.

Habit

erect bush to small tree, located in swamps and wet riparianriparian:
(adj) growing by rivers or streams; of, adjacent to, or living on, the banks of a river, lake, pond, etc.
habitats

Brief description

Annual or perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, simple. petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
ovate to lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
, often palmately lobedlobed:
(adj) divided into (usually rounded) segments
; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
often toothed or serrateserrate:
(adj) (of a leaf margin) bearing sharp teeth pointing forward or to the apex
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
, a cymecyme:
(n) a determinate, usually flat-topped or convex inflorescence in which the terminal flower blooms earliest
or solitary. Flowers usually solitary, sometimes axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
or in terminalterminal:
(adj) at the apex
aggregations, large and showy, trumpet-shaped; epicalyxepicalyx:
(n) a whorl of bracts outside the true calyx
present or fused with calyxcalyx:
(n) the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
; calyxcalyx:
(n) the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
5-lobed; petals 5, color variable, often pink to red. Dispersal of stem fragments by water or seeds by water or animals.

Natural habitat

riparian, littorallittoral:
(adj) of or along the shore
zone, mostly in shallow areas

Additional comments

A diverse genus with numerous ornamental varieties. Relatively few species are restricted to aquatic- riparianriparian:
(adj) growing by rivers or streams; of, adjacent to, or living on, the banks of a river, lake, pond, etc.
habitats.