Hibiscus micranthus

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

An annual herb or shrub. It grows 70-300 cm tall. It can keep growing for a few years. The branches are straight. The stems are hairy. The leaf stalk is 5-20 mm long. The leaf blade is 20-45 mm long by 15-40 mm wide. The flowers are 1 cm across and white, pink or purple. They occur singly in the axils of leaves.

There are about 220 Hibiscus species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It grows in well-drained rocky and sandy soils. It grows between 70-2,900 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Comoros, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The green capsules are edible raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akilehena, Khusiyat, Klondonya, Mburi, Mchachando, Mfagio, Mhurusha-mbuzi, Msase, Okda, Ol egogia

Synonyms

Hibiscus gossypinus DC.; Hibiscus micranthus var. genninus Hochr.; Hibiscus ovalifolius (Forssk.) Vahl Hibiscus pavoniformis Baill.;