Malvaceae FAMILY

Hibiscus radiatus

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Hibiscus radiatus is an erect, branched perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody and persist; it can grow about 1 metre tall with small prickles on the undersides of the leaves and along the stems[ 1671 Title Revision of Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in Africa and Asia Publication Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 29( 1 ): 47-79 Author Wilson F.D. Publisher Year 1999 ISBN Description ]. The plant is widely cultivated in the Tropics and is also harvested from naturalized plants, being used as a food, medicine and source of fibre[ 1671 Title Revision of Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in Africa and Asia Publication Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 29( 1 ): 47-79 Author Wilson F.D. Publisher Year 1999 ISBN Description ]

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeProbably originated in the Asian tropics by hybridization of Hibiscus cannabinus with Hibiscus surattensis, widely naturalized throughout the tropics.

HabitatNot known in a truly wild situation, naturalized in deciduous forests in southern India.