(Last Modified On 3/8/2013)
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(Last Modified On 3/8/2013)
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Species
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HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 695. 1753.
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Description
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Herb, annual, 0.5-2 m high, the stem glabrous or sparsely puberulus. Leaves long-petiolate, the petiole up to 6.5 cm long, glabrous or sparsely puberulus, the stipules narrowly triangular, acute; blade polymorphic, simple and ovate-acute to usually 3- to 5- to 7-palmatifid, the lobes verry narrowly elliptic and acute, with acute sinuses, serrulate or crenulate at the margin, up to 12-15 cm long, glabrous, the midrib prominent and bearing a subbasal gland beneath. Flowers axillary, solitary or in racemiform, terminal inflorescences by reduction of the upper leaves, the pedicel short and stout, 5-7 mm long; epicalyx of ca 10 bractlets, these linear-ovate, united basally and adnate to the base of the calyx, ca 8-12 mm long, sparsely hirsute especially toward the base, accrescent; calyx cupuliform, lobed to about or to below the middle, 1.5-2.2. cm long, deep red, much accrescent, up to 3.5 cm long in fruit and becoming with the epicalyx fleshy and dark red or purple, the lobes ovate, acute, strongly 3-nerved, usually with an elongate gland on the midvein of each lobe, sparsely hirsute especially toward the base; petals cuneate- obovate, rounded at the apex, 3-5 cm long, cream-colored or yellow, often tinged with red; staminal tube much shorter than the corolla. Capsule much shorter than the accrescent calyx, subglobose, apiculate, 1.8-2 cm long, appressed-hirsute; seeds reniform-angulate, 3-5 mm long, very minutely puberulus.
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Habit
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Herb
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Note
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Roselle or Jamaica Sorrel is cultivated throughout the tropics and is often naturalized. The fleshy epicalyx and calyx are used for making preserves and a beverage simulating lemonade. It is called viiuela in Panama (cf. Standley 25222).
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Corozal, cult. plant, J. M. & M. T. Greenman 5192 (MO); Sosa Hill, Balboa, edge of clearing, commonly cult. and also wild, Standley 25222 (US).
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