Hibiscus shirensis Sprague & Hutchinson

shirensis: of the Shire River in southern Malawi

Robust perennial herb or shrub, up to 2-4 m. Stems covered in 2 kinds of stellate hairs. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, more or less 3-lobed, stellate hairy on both surfaces, 5-7-veined; margins irregularly serrate. Flowers solitary, axillary, bright red, 2-3 cm in diameter. Epicalyx of 6-8 bracts, up to 7 mm long, filiform to linear, silvery-green, particularly when dried. Calyx 8-14 mm, narrowly lanceolate, velvety hairy. Fruit a subspherical capsule, puberulous. Seeds with long white silky hairs.

from DRC and Tanzania, South to Zimbabwe and Mozambique