Kingdom Plantae Family Malvaceae Scientific name Hibiscus diversifolius Rank Species | Order Malvales Genus Hibiscus Higher classification Hibiscus | |
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Similar Hibiscus, Mallows, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Hibiscus calyphyllus, Hibiscus radiatus | ||
Hibiscus diversifolius (Swamp Hibiscus) is a widespread species of hibiscus. It grows to between 1 and 2 metres in height, with prickly stems and yellow flowers with a maroon basal spot during spring summer.
Distribution
It occurs in tropical Africa, New Guinea, the Philippines, many Pacific Islands, Central and South America, the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island as well as the states of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. There is disagreement over its native range. Some sources consider it native only to Africa, and naturalised elsewhere; but it is considered a native in New Zealand and Australia
It is found in low, swampy areas; in Africa it may occur inland or near the coast, but in all other continents it occurs only in coastal areas. This distribution, together with genomic evidence, suggests that it originated in Africa, and colonised the other continents through long-range salt-water dispersal.
