Hibiscus meraukensis

Hockr.

Merauke Hibiscus, Bush hibiscus

Malvaceae Edible: Seeds, Flowers, Roots 277 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Hibiscus meraukensis is an annual flowering shrub in the cotton family Malvaceae, native to much of northern Australia from Western Australia to Queensland, as well as in Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia from where the type specimen was collected. It grows annually, typically sprouting after the wet season in Northern Australia and dying off in the dry season, re-sprouting from seed the following year. It is relatively small compared to other species in the same genus, rarely reaching 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in height.

Description

An erect annual shrub. It grows 1-2 m high. The stems are hairy. The leaves are coarse and dark green. The size and shape of the leaves varies. The lower leaves can be divided into 3-5 narrow lobes. The leaf blade is 10-18 cm long by 2.5-8.5 cm wide. The flowers are large and white. They have a red centre. They are about 7-10 cm across. Flowers occur singly and in the axils of leaves. The fruit are slightly woody capsules. These are about 1.5-1.7 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The seeds inside are dark brown and kidney shaped.

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten raw. The flowers and roots are also edible portions.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. Plants grow naturally in open forest often on poor soils. They can be along the banks of rivers.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.

Notes

There are about 220 Hibiscus species.

References (21)

Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Geneve 11-12:8. 1907
Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 67
Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 222
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 190, 200
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 278

Show all 21 references

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Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 132
Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. p 99
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Scarth-Johnson, V., 2000, National Treasures. Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association. Cooktown, Australia. p 176
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 255
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Yunupinu Banjgul, Laklak Yunupinu-Marika, et al. 1995, Rirratjinu Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 21. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 47