atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

Hibiscus mutabilis L. "changeable rose mallow", "changeable rose", "variable rose"
dorot ("the roseU)(N)
Recent introduction. S. China. Rare. Large, downy pubescent shrub, up to 5 m
tall, with both simple and stellate hairs; leaves, 10 to 25 cm long and broad, alternate,
orbicular, cordate, 3 to 7-lobed, long-acuminate, 5 to ll-nerved, dark green above and
light green and tomentose beneath; petioles, 2 to 8 cm long; inflorescences, axillary
(occasionally terminal), usually single but sometimes double; pedicels, 7 to 10 cm long,
accrescent, articulate; epicalyx , 6-segmented, well-developed, persistent, segments about
2 cm long, linear-lanceolate; calyx, 5 to 7 cm across, deeply divided, Nobed, lobes 2 to
3.5 cm long, abruptly widened above the base; corolla, 8 to 12 cm across, opening white
changing to pink, many-petaled, petals 4 to 5 cm long; fruit, about 2.5 cm wide,
subglobose, capsular, 5-locular, setose-lanate; seeds, reniform, tomentose, the hairs 2 to
4 mm long, spreading to subspreading. Planted ornamental along road to Meneng
Terrace. 5(157), 7.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. "hibiscus", "red hibiscus"
dorot ("the roseU)(N); te roti ("the roseU)(K); aute (T)
Pre-World War I1 introduction. Trop. Asia. Common. Many branching, glabrous
shrub, up to 1 to 4 m tall, with erect to drooping branches; leaves, about 6 to 15 cm long
and up to 12 cm wide, alternate, variable, ovate-elliptical, acute or acuminate, crenate-
serrate, subcordate, obtuse or subacute, green on both sides, palmately 5-nerved;
petioles, up to 5 cm long; inflorescences, axillary, near the ends of branches on elongate
pedicels, 1.5 to 7.5 cm long; epicalyx of 5 or more ovate- to linear-lanceolate bracts 5 to
18 mm long; calyx, green, 5-lobed for about half its length, persistent; corolla, mostly 8
to 12 cm across, single or in some forms double, campanulate or broadly funnelform,
petals entire, showy, usually bright red, but also pink, yellow, light-orange or white;
staminal tube slightly longer than the corolla, often nodding or pendulous, crimson; fruit,
capsular, ovoid-rounded, 5-valved, 15-seeded (or less); seeds, subglobose, rarely seen.
Planted ornamental and hedge plant; flowers used in garlands and for decoration. One of
the commonest and most widespread of all ornamental plants in tropical regions.
3(58791), 5(126), 6, 7.
Hibiscus schizopetalus (Mast.) Hook. f.
dorot (N)
"coral hibiscus", "dragon flower"
Recent introduction. E. Africa. Rare. Glabrous shrub, 2 to 4 m high, very much
- like H. rosa-sinensis; leaves, alternate, ovate-elliptical, acute, -- dentate; inflorescences, - -
soritary , pendulous Klongpedicels attheends1 ender, drooping branches; pedicels,
8 to 10 cm long; segments of epicalyx 1 to 2 mm long; calyx irregularly 2- to 4-lobed,
sometimes spathaceous; corolla, deeply dissected (laciniate), reflexed, petals pink-andwhite
to coral-red, sometimes with white or yellow margins; staminal tube about twice as