Hibiscus hirtus, Nityamalli, Lesser Mallow

Hibiscus hirtus L.
Family: Malvaceae

Common name: Lesser Mallow
Marathi: दुपा Dupari, नरेरी Nareri
Gujarati: Baporis
Bengali: Lal-surgumini
Tamil: நித்யமல்லீ Nityamalli
Telugu: నిత్యమల్లి Nityamalli,
Malayalam: സൂര്യമനീ

Description: Herb or undershrubs, 1-1.5 m high; stems erect, pubescent with simple stiff minute stellate hairs.Leaves alternate, lower ones ovate, rounded or cuneate at base, crenate-serrate or irregularly toothed at margin, acute to acuminate at apex, 3-6 x 2-3 cm, 3-5 nerved at base, often with an oblong nectary on midnerve beneath, minutely pubescent with stellate hairs; petioles 0.5-1.5 cm long, with long stellate and simple hairs; stipules linear, 2-8 mm long, ciliate. Flowers axillary, solitary or seemingly in racemes or panicles by reduction of upper leaves; pedicels longer than petioles, 0.5-2 cm, accrescent to 5 cm, jointed below or above middle, pubescent. Epicalyx lobes 6-9, free, lanceolate to linear or subulate, acute, 3-8 x 0.5-1 mm. Calyx ca 1.5 cm across, 5-fid or parted; lobes divided nearly to base, linear-lanceolate, hairy, persistent. Corolla rotate, pink or white. Petals obovate, 1-1.5 x 0.5-0.8 mm, rounded at apex. Staminal column shorter than or as long as petals. Ovary subglobose, ca 2 mm across; stigmas capitate. Capsules globose, 7-10 mm, shorter than calyx; seeds 2 or 3 in each locule, reniform, ca 2 mm across, densely covered with long wooly hairs

Published articles
1. Hibiscus hirtus L. (Malvaceae): A new record for the flora of Madhya Pradesh
By: Tiwari, Arjun Prasad; Shukla, Achuta Nand; Kharma, K. K.
Phytotaxonomy  Volume: 12   Pages: 169-170   Published: 2012

2. Notes on Hibiscus-hirtus And Hibiscus-talbotii Malvaceae
By: Paul T K; Nayar M P
Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India  Volume: 22   Issue: 1-4   Pages: 197-198   Published: 1980

3. Notes on Hibiscus-hirtus Malvaceae
By: BOSE R B
Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India  Volume: 17   Issue: 1-4   Pages: 163   Published: 1975