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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
David Lorence, PhD, NTBG Director of Science, talking about Hibiscus genevii
Family: MALVACEAE Genus: Hibiscus Species: genevii Species Author: Bojer ex Hook.
Hibiscus genevii is a bush that can reach up to 2-3 meters in height. The adult leaves are ranging from 4 to 7 cm in length by 3 to 5 cm in width. The leaf is elliptical, rather rounded at the tip and at the base. The leaf margin is entire, sometimes rather crenate on the half distal part. A glandular is also visible near the midvein on the lower leaf surface. The petiole is 1 to 4.5 cm in length, quite canaliculated and hairy on the upper surface. Stipules are 2-3 mm long, fleshy and deciduous in nature. Flowers are solitary with long pedicels of the order of 4-9 cm. The corolla can reach up to 12 cm with 5 petals spread out that can reach a length of 6-8 cm and pink-purple in colour with a red centre. The epicalyx has 8 to 9 linear teeth that are virtually free and between 1 and 1.4 cm in length. The calyx has a campanulated, rather smooth tube measuring between 1.5 and 2.5 cm, with deltoid lobes that can be as long as 1.2 cm. The staminal column is 5-8 cm long. The style is longer than the staminal column by some 5 mm and is divided into 5 long branches of more or less 7 mm. The stigma is pale red with a capsule of 2 to 2.5 cm. The ovary consist or more or less 10 ovules. The grains are rather oval, measure 4.5 mm in length are greyish in colour.
Hibiscus genevii is endemic to Mauritius.
Hibiscus genevii was thought to have been extinct some one century and a half ago and has been re-discovered by Dr. L. Bernardi and Mr. J. Gueho, 33 years ago, on the 21st of January 1968.
We currently have 9 herbarium specimens for Hibiscus genevii in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
