The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Hibiscus diversifolius subsp. diversifolius

Etymology

Hibiscus: marsh mallow
diversifolius: with differing or varied leaves; from the Latin diversus and folium; leaf shapes
diversifolius: with differing or varied leaves; from the Latin diversus and folium; leaf shapes

Common Name(s)

Native hibiscus, swamp hibiscus, prickly hibiscus

Threat Status

Nationally Endangered

Status 2004

Nationally Vulnerable

Authority

Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. subsp. diversifolius

Qualifiers

SO, Sp

Family

Malvaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Synonyms

The only synonym applicable to New Zealand is Hibiscus taylorii Buchanan nom. nud.

Distribution

Indigenous. In New Zealand this species has apparently always been restricted to the northern most extremity of the North Island (from about Reef Point and Doubtless Bay north). The largest populations known occur on the eastern side of Te Paki. However, several of these owe to their origins to deliberate plantings by conservation minded locals. Outside New Zealand this species is also known from tropical Africa, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, many Pacific Islands and Central and South America. New Zealand plants match subsp. diversifolius.

Habitat

Coastal wetlands and streamsides. Often growing amongst raupo (Typha orientalis C.B.Presl) at the back of dune slacks or close to brackish streams. Very rarely in gumland scrub or on ultramafic rubble.

Features

Shrub up to 2 x 2 m, typically forming dense intertangled thickets. Stems stout and woody, especially near base. Young branches and leaf petioles clad in small, sharp prickles. Petioles up to 80 mm long. Leaves 50-100 x 30-80 mm, broad cordate to suborbicular, or truncate, shallowly 3-5-lobed, scabrid, margins crenate-dentate. Flowers in terminal racemes, 50-80 mm diam, borne on short, prickly pedicels. Bracts lanceolate, bracteoles 10, linear, c.15 mm long, hispid, Calyx densely clad in long stiff hairs, lobes lanceolate c. 10 mm long. Petals 35 x 35 mm, pale lemon-yellow, with a dark purplish basal blotch, obovate. Capsule 20 x 20 mm, ovoid, acute to acuminate, clad in long stiff hairs. Seeds 4-5 mm, pale brown, glabrous.

Similar Taxa

A well marked species easily distinguished from other Hibiscus species cultivated or naturalised in New Zealand by the prickly stems and leaf petioles.

Flowering

September - April (but sporadic flowering may occur at anytime of the year)

Main Flower Colour

Yellow

Other Flower Colour

White

Fruiting

October to May (but fruit may be found at anytime of the year)

Propagation Technique

Very easily grown from fresh seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. An attractive shrub, ideal for a coastal garden or sheltered situation when grown inland. Rather frost tender, in cooler areas it can be treated as a vine and grown up walls which protects it from frost. The prickly stems and petioles can be unpleasant. The creeping form reputedly from the Surville Cliffs makes an ideal ground cover. Hibiscus diversifolius can be grown around ponds and in boggy ground.

Threats

This species is under severe threat from the actions of browsing animals, particularly wild cattle and horses which greedily devour it wherever they can find accessible plants. Some populations at Tokerau Beach have been eliminated by coastal housing development.

Chromosome No.

2n = 72

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 29 Mar 2010