Splendid hibiscus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Splendid hibiscus |
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Hibiscus
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splendens
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The splendid hibiscus, also known as Hibiscus splendens, is a beautiful flowering shrub or small tree. It belongs to the mallow family, called Malvaceae. You might also hear it called the hollyhock tree or pink cottonwood. This plant is quite common and grows naturally in eastern Australia. You can find it from Wollongong in New South Wales all the way up to Blackdown Tableland National Park in central east Queensland. It likes to grow in open areas or disturbed spots around the edges of drier rainforests.
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What Does the Splendid Hibiscus Look Like?
The splendid hibiscus can grow as a large bush or a small tree. It can reach up to 6 metres (about 20 feet) tall, which is like two basketball hoops stacked on top of each other! Its main stem, or trunk, can be about 7 centimetres (almost 3 inches) wide.
Spiky Trunk and Leaves
One cool thing about this plant is that its trunk and most of its branches are covered in sharp prickles. So, you need to be careful when you are near it!
The leaves are usually 7 to 20 centimetres (about 3 to 8 inches) long. They are shaped like a heart with a pointed tip and have jagged edges, like tiny teeth. Some leaves are simple, while others have three to five lobes, which are like small sections. They grow one after another along the stem. You can easily see the main vein and smaller veins on both sides of the leaves.
Amazing Pink Flowers
The flowers of the splendid hibiscus are truly amazing! They are a bright, spectacular pink color and are about 7 centimetres (almost 3 inches) long. These beautiful flowers usually bloom from October to December. The plant's scientific name, "splendens," actually means "splendid" or "beautiful," which perfectly describes its lovely flowers.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the plant produces fruit. These fruits are shaped like an egg and are covered in tiny hairs. Inside each fruit, there are five small sections, and each section holds dark, pyramid-shaped seeds. These seeds are very tiny, only about 3 to 4 millimetres long. Be careful when handling the fruits, because the hairs on them can make your skin itchy! The fruits usually ripen between December and February.
How the Splendid Hibiscus Grows
The splendid hibiscus is a plant that helps rainforests grow back after disturbances. This means it's quite easy to grow new plants from its seeds. You can also grow new plants by taking cuttings from the existing plant, which means cutting off a piece of a stem and planting it.
Uses of the Splendid Hibiscus
Because of its beautiful pink flowers, the splendid hibiscus is a very attractive plant to have in gardens.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the splendid hibiscus flower.
See also
In Spanish: Hibisco espléndido para niños
