Hibiscus radiatus

Hibiscus radiatus Cav.         

Family     :  Malvaceae

Common Name :ചുവന്ന വൈശ്യപുലി(Mal)

                                Ruby Hibiscus(Eng)

Monarch rosemallow is a small subshrub growing about 1 m tall with small prickles on the undersides of the leaves and along the stems. It has 15 cm mauve flowers that have a purple center and yellow anthers. Leaves are toothed, with upper leaves lobed into 3-7 parts. Leaves are often mistaken for marijuana, but this plant's stems have small thorns.

Shrubs, to 2 m high; stem glandular-scabrid. Leaves simple, opposite, to 12 x 6 cm, elliptic to obovate, acuminate at apex, base attenuate serrate; nerves 6-pairs; thinly tomentose below; petiole to 6 cm long. Racemes terminal, panicles; bracts oblanceolate; flowers 4-6 at each node; pedicel 4 mm long. Calyx 5 mm long, glabrous; upper lip ovate, obtuse, lobes of lower lip acuminate, glandular. Corolla white, tube 2-3 mm long, lobes obtuse. Staminal filaments glabrous or villous at base; anthers sagittate at base. Nutlets 1.5 x 1 mm, pitted, brown.