Hibiscus articulatus

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a woody rootstock. It produces new shoots from this each year. The leaves are 10 cm long by 6 cm wide. The leaves are oval. The flowers are white or pale yellow. They are 5-10 cm across. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule 18 mm long by 12 mm wide. The seeds are 2.5 mm long by 2 mm wide.

There are about 220 Hibiscus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in woodland from sea level to 1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Togo, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chamakande, Derere hambakachere, Tchamande, Therere

Synonyms

Hibiscus eburneopetalus Bak. f.; ? Hibiscus oenotheroides Webb; Hibiscus rhodesicus Bak. f.; ?