Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Hibiscadelphus

(Hibiscadelphus)

galery
en

Description

Hibiscadelphus is a genus of Malvaceae from the subfamily Malvoideae endemic to Hawaiʻi. It is known by the Native Hawaiians as hau kuahiwi which means "mountain Hibiscus". The Latin name means "brother of Hibiscus". It is distinctive for its peculiar flowers, which do not fully open. Hibiscadelphus was first described by Austrian-American botanist Joseph Rock in 1911 on the basis of the species H. giffardianus. The genus consists of seven species, one of which, H. woodii, was only described in 1995. They are large shrubs or trees, up to 7 metres (23 ft) tall, with nearly circular leaves. It is characterized by flowers that never open to the flat form of Hibiscus, but remain folded together in a tubular form. This is presumed to be an adaptation to pollination by honeycreepers. The fruits are rough capsules containing up to 15 hairy seeds.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class:
Order:Malvales
Family:Malvaceae
Genus:Hibiscadelphus
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