Tropical rose mallow
Hibiscus vitifolius

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb or low shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaves are alternate and can be simple or have 3-5 lobes. The leaves at the top of the plant are oval. They are 2-15 cm long by 1-18 cm wide. They are hairy and have teeth along the edge. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are pale yellow with a dark red spot at the base. They are about 3 cm long. The fruit is a capsule that is a flattened round shape. It is about 1 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near the edge of dry rainforest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Comoros, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flowers ?, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bup la-nho

Synonyms

Abelmoschus vitifolius (L.) hassk.; Fioria vitifolia (L.) Mattei; Hibiscus cuspidatus Edgew.; Hibiscus heterotrichus DC.; Hibiscus jatrophifolius A. Rich.; Hibiscus lepidospermus Miq.; Hibiscus obtusifolius Willd.; Hibiscus strigosus Schumach. & Thonn.; Hibiscus suarezensis Baill.; Hibiscus vitifolius var. heterotrichus (DC.) Hochr.;