白花秋葵

It is rare in Pakistan.

Undershrub, 0.5-1.5 m tall. Stem usually simple, and short hairy, sometimes prickly, usually thick and fistular. Leaves 2-15 cm long and broad, orbicular, cordate at base, serrate, scabrous on both sides, 3-5-parted, lobes obovate to spathulate; stipules 5-12 mm long, linear or filiform, hirsute; petiole 2-20 cm long, simple hairy. Flowers axillary, solitary or in terminal racemes by the reduction of leaves; pedicel 1-1.5 cm long, in fruit up to 3.5 cm, densely simple hairy, glabrescent. Epicalyx segments 5-6, lanceolate, rough, caducous before expansion of corolla. Calyx c. 1.5 cm long. Corolla c. 3 cm across, white, becoming pink, with a dark purple spot in the centre; petals obovate, 2-3 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad. Staminal tube c. 1.5 cm long, glabrous. Capsule 3-3.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm across, 5 angular, ovoid, simple, hairy, glabrescent, valves membranous. Seeds c. 3 mm across, globular, black, glabrous to stellate pilose.

Distribution: N. Australia, S. Asia, Malesia, E. Africa and Madagascar.