Confederate rose

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Confederate-rose
• cotton-rose
• Changeable Rose-mallow
• Confederate rose
• Cotton Rosemallow
• Confederate rose or cotton rosemallow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ketmia mutabilis
• Abelmoschus mutabilis
• Hibiscus sinensis
• Hibiscus immutabilis
• Hibiscus mutabilis var. roseoplenus
• Hibiscus mutabilis f. plenus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Hibiscus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide range of distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence can be noted in Gambia. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, it is found in Cameroon as well as throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its reach extends further south to South Tropical Africa, specifically within Zimbabwe. Finally, the species is also documented in the Northern Provinces of Southern Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hibiscus mutabilis is defined by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, thriving in environments that span from low-lying areas to significant heights. The species exhibits a broad elevational range, establishing itself at minimum altitudes of 87 m AMSL and extending its ecological niche up to a maximum elevation of 2551 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests a high degree of adaptability to varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels associated with different mountain strata. Such an expansive range allows the plant to colonize various topographical niches, facilitating its presence across diverse landscape profiles within its natural habitat.

Elevational range max:

2551 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

87 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Hibiscus mutabilis are characterized by a complex and highly variable karyotype, exhibiting significant deviations from standard diploid expectations in terms of chromosome counts. While the species is fundamentally categorized by a ploidy level of 2, it displays an extraordinary range of chromosome numbers, with recorded values including 84, 92, 100, 110, and 120. This high degree of numerical variation suggests a genome that has undergone extensive structural evolution or chromosomal rearrangements, contributing to the unique morphological plasticity observed within the species.

Chromosome number :

84, 92, 100, 110, 120

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Hibiscus mutabilis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a trait that supports its robust structural development. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal environmental changes or periods of dormancy. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduous behavior defines its rhythmic growth patterns and ability to adapt to its ecological niche over time.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hibiscus mutabilis is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting shrub. This terrestrial plant, which is an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, displays significant variability in its physical stature. Its height ranges from a minimum of 0.5 meters to a maximum of 8 meters, with an observed mean plant height of approximately 3.25 meters. As a self-supporting woody species, it maintains its structure without the need for climbing mechanisms like lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

3.25 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hibiscus mutabilis is characterized by its efficient carbon assimilation through a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and energy production. The plant's vegetative growth is supported by foliage of varying dimensions, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 12.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 20 cm. These leaves exhibit significant lateral expansion, with widths spanning from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategy, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width min:

8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hibiscus mutabilis is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowers, which feature a pink coloration, vary in width with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit. These capsules typically measure between 1.6 cm and 2.8 cm in length. As a dehiscent fruit, the capsule eventually opens to release its seeds. Each fruit is prolific, containing a seed count ranging from 11 to 100 seeds. The individual seeds are relatively small, with a length spanning from 2 mm to 3 mm and a consistent mass of approximately 0.0035 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

pink

Flower width max:

0.5 cm

Flower width min:

0.1 cm

Fruit length max:

2.8 cm

Fruit length min:

1.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

3 mm

Seed length min:

2 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.0035 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hibiscus mutabilis has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Ethylhexanol, 6-Methylheptanol, Alcohols, Alkanes, Compound 1.

2-Ethylhexanol

1. Insects

6-Methylheptanol

1. Insects

Alcohols

1. Insects

Alkanes

1. Insects

Compound 1

1. Natural product research

Flavonoid

1. Natural product research

Terpenes

1. Insects

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Hibiscus mutabilis has 18 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Hibiscus mutabilis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include common cold, coughs, impotence, respiratory diseases, retrograde ejaculation.

Common cold

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Coughs

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Impotence

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Respiratory diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Retrograde ejaculation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology