Swamp Hibiscus
Hibiscus diversifolius
Robust plant growing in marshy edge of stream near Eldoret, Kenya, Africa. January 2014.
SHRUB: A sparsely branched shrub with prickly stems.
FLOWERS: The flowers are usually a shade of yellow with a dark maroon center. The stamen column is dark red.
LEAVES: The leaves are variously lobed or not.
RANGE: Africa, but also coastal areas of Asia and Australia. Prefers wet, swampy areas.
FRUIT: The fruit breaks into usually five segments and is also rather prickly.
ARMED: The surfaces of the stems are prickly.
On the mature fruit above some seed bugs, f. Lygaeidae, are feeding on the seeds within. With long, piercing-sucking mouthparts they penetrate the carpel walls to get at the seeds. Seeds that have been fed upon loose viability and may become infected with molds or bacteria entering through the wounds.