Hibiscus acetosella

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hibiscus eetveldeanus

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Hibiscus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several regions within the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Benin, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can also be found in Burundi. Furthermore, its range extends into Cameroon, which is part of the West-Central region. Together, these locations highlight the plant's presence in both West and West-Central tropical ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hibiscus acetosella is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit a diverse range of environments spanning from sea level to montane regions. Specifically, its elevational range extends from a minimum of 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL, indicating a high degree of ecological plasticity across varying topographical gradients. This wide vertical range suggests that the species is capable of adapting to a variety of temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels found between lowland coastal or tropical plains and mid-elevation slopes. Such adaptability enables the plant to colonize different niches within its landscape, potentially interacting with a wide array of pollinators and soil compositions across its entire elevational spectrum.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Hibiscus acetosella is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological growth strategy and life form, it exhibits characteristics of both a therophyte and a chamaephyte. As a therophyte, it possesses the ability to complete its seasonal development through specialized structures, while its classification as a chamaephyte indicates that its perennating buds are located close to the soil surface, enabling it to survive varying environmental conditions and regenerate effectively.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hibiscus acetosella is characterized by a growth form that can be classified as both a shrub and a herb, typically reaching a plant height with a mean of 1.5 m. It is a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite, and is categorized as terrestrial in terms of its epiphytic status. The plant is non-woody in its structure and exhibits a self-supporting habit, meaning it does not function as a liana, vine, or any other type of climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hibiscus acetosella is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation mechanism and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. Unlike plants utilizing C4 or CAM pathways to minimize photorespiration, this species relies on the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. Additionally, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, Hibiscus acetosella is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as those found in rhizobia, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its physiological growth and nitrogen assimilation are heavily dependent on the availability of nitrates and ammonium present in the surrounding soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hibiscus acetosella is driven by a combination of biotic mechanisms, primarily characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome. The plant relies heavily on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen, making it an insect-pollinated species. Within its reproductive cycle, self-fertilization is present, allowing for successful seed production even in the absence of diverse pollinators. Once fertilization occurs, the dispersal of seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are spread by animals. More specifically, the plant exhibits epizoochorous dispersal, where seeds or reproductive structures attach to the external surfaces of animals to be transported to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hibiscus acetosella has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemicals

Hibiscus acetosella has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, Coumaric Acid, Flavonoid, Gallic acid, Gallocatechin.

3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Coumaric Acid

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Flavonoid

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Gallic acid

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Gallocatechin

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Hyperoside

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Polyphenol

1. International journal of molecular sciences

RUTIN

1. International journal of molecular sciences

caffeic acid

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Activities

Hibiscus acetosella has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antigenotoxic, Antimutagenic.

Antigenotoxic

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Antimutagenic

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Medicinal Uses

Hibiscus acetosella has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abscesses, conjunctivitis, fever, hemorrhoid, pain.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations