Manioc Hibiscus

Borssum Waalkes (Blumea 14: 96-100. 1966) recognized two SubSpe: subsp. manihot and subsp. tetraphyllus (Roxburgh) Borssum Waalkes. The latter further divided into var. pungens, with prickly hairs on the epicalyx, and var. tetraphyllus, which is found in Indonesia and Philippines, without such hairs on the epicalyx.

Herbs annual or perennial, 1-2 m tall, most parts long simple-hispid and minutely simple- or few-rayed pubescent. Stipules linear-lanceolate, sometimes 2 on each side of petiole, 1-1.5 cm; petiole 6-18 cm; leaf blade palmately 5-9-lobed, 15-30 cm in diam., lobes oblong-lanceolate, sometimes ± pinnately lobed, 8-18 × 1-6 cm, sparsely long hispid on both surfaces, margin robustly, obtusely serrate. Flowers solitary, subapical and forming terminal raceme; pedicel 1.5-4 cm. Epicalyx lobes 4 or 5, ovate-lanceolate, 15-25 × 4-5 mm, sparsely long hispid. Calyx spathaceous, minutely 5-lobed, nearly entire, longer than epicalyx, puberulent only, not hispid, caducous at fruiting. Corolla yellow with purple center, ca. 12 cm in diam. Staminal column 1.5-2.5 cm; anthers nearly sessile. Stigma purple-black, spatulate-disk-shaped. Capsule ovoid-ellipsoid, 4-5 × 2.5-3 cm, densely hirsute. Seeds many, reniform, with several lines of hairs. Fl. Aug-Oct.

Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Nepal, Philippines, N Thailand].

Grasslands, streamsides, margins of farms; 1000-2100 m.