Abelmoschus ficulneus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Abelmoschus ficulneus

Scientific classification
Genus:	Abelmoschus
Species:	ficulneus
Synonyms
Hibiscus ficulneus

Abelmoschus ficulneus is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Abelmoschus group and the Malvaceae family. People often call it the white wild musk mallow or native rosella. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has a strong, woody stem. Its flowers are usually pink or white. They have a dark center and are about 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide. The leaves look like an open hand, which is called palmate.

What Does It Look Like?
Seeds and Fruit
How It Grows
Where It Lives
Gallery
See also

What Does It Look Like?

This plant grows as a small, upright shrub. It can be about 0.6 to 1.5 meters (2 to 5 feet) tall. It also spreads out, reaching 0.6 to 1.8 meters (2 to 6 feet) wide.

Its leaves are about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) long. They are also 4 to 7 cm (1.5 to 2.7 inches) wide. The leaves are mostly round, but they can be heart-shaped near the bottom. Both sides of the leaves feel rough. They have small teeth along their edges. Each leaf also has 3 to 5 lobes, which are like rounded sections.

The stems that hold the flowers are covered in soft, velvety hairs. The flowers themselves are quite large, about 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.7 inches) across. They can be white or pink. In the middle, they have a dark purple spot. These beautiful flowers usually last only a few days. Be careful, as the plant has tiny hairs that might make your skin itchy!

Seeds and Fruit

After the flowers, the plant grows seed pods. These pods are hairy and feel sticky. They are oval-shaped and about 2.5 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inches) long. They are also 1.3 to 2 cm (0.5 to 0.7 inches) wide. Each pod has five ridges and a small beak-like tip.

When the seeds are young, they are medium to dark green. As they get older, they turn dark brown. The seed pod then splits into five parts. This releases 10 to 20 seeds. The seeds are round and dark brown or black. They are also covered in tiny hairs.

How It Grows

Abelmoschus ficulneus seeds start to grow in spring and summer. This happens after there has been enough rain or watering. The plant grows very quickly during spring and summer. It continues to grow through the autumn months. New seeds are ready about a month after the plant flowers. This usually happens in late summer and autumn.

Where It Lives

This plant is found naturally in many places. It grows in northern and eastern Africa. You can also find it in Madagascar. It is common in parts of Asia, like India and Malaysia. It also grows in Northern Australia. In some places, it can become a common weed in cotton fields.