Malvaceae members in RMNH campus

Gossypium barbadense L.

Local name: Hatti gida, Hanji, Nooluhatti, Jadehatti.

Habit : a moderate shrub, up to 2- 4 meters high, Stem erect, branched terete, green, sparsely stellate –pubescent.

Leaves: alternate, simple, peltate, 3-5 lobed, lobes are ovate, acuminate and entire. Stipules are present, acuminate, linear –lanceolate and membranous, up to 1-2 cm long.

Flowers: Flowers display yellow with a ting of fading purple colour. Either Axillary positioned or in sympodial inflorescences. Bracteoles – 3, foliar, broadly ovate, cordate and fimbricate.

Calyx: Cup shaped, entire, persistent. The stamina column is stout, purplish and antheriferous above the base. Style branched, stigma is capitates.

Fruits: fruit is a capsule, seeds are black, ellipsoid, cottony hairy

Frts & Flrs: April to January.

Note: A much cultivated species of cotton.

Thespesia populnea L.

Local name: Hoovarasi, Poovarasi, Buguri mara.

Habit: trees, up to 8-15 meters, Twigs with brown to silvery peltate scales.

Leaves: Alternate, long petiole, ovate, orbicular, 5-13 x 4-10 cm, nerved at the base, nectarines absent.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary yellow, throat purplish, lobes oblong, caduceus bracteoles. Calyx cup shaped, minutely 5 toothed, capsule globose, often depressed to 2.5 cm across, and yellow sap is present, Ovary discoid, 3 celled, few ovals in each cell, style club shaped, and stigma branched. Staminal column is stout, small antheriferous from base.

Fruit: a dehiscent capsule, subglobose, covered with peltate scales, yellow latex is present. Seeds are ovoid, 2-4 per cell, channeled along the back, puberulose.

Note: Planted as avenue tree for shade & foliage, bark and sap used in native medicine.

Abelmoschus esculentus L. Monech.

Local name: Bende kayi, Ladies finger.

Habit: an erect, branched, hairy shrub, up to 1.5 meter.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3-5 lobed [some times 6 lobes also]. The lobes are triangular, cordate, long, coarsely toothed. The Upper & lower surface is with scattered, short rigid, simple hairs. Leaf measures about 3-25 x5-23 cm.

Flower: Axillary, solitary, bracteoles 8-10, hairy & lanceolate. Corolla yellow with a purple centre, up to 7x 3.8 cm. Staminal column is antheriferous from base, Ovary pyramidal, 5-celled, numerous ovules in each cell. , styles -5, slender, stigma is capitate.

Fruit : a capsule, oblong up to 15 + cm long, dehiscent, seeds globose, hairy, grey in colour.

Note: cultivated for its edible fruits, sometimes occur as an escape .

Fioria vitifolia L.

Local name: Manitutti gida.

Habit : Under shrubs , grow up to 1 meter long, normally tomentosa and slightly viscid, stellate hairs few.

Leaves: the upper leaves are 305 lobed, orbicular, ovate, 3.5 cm across. Lower leaves are with 3-5, broadly triangular lobes.

Flowers: Axillary and drooping. Corolla fused at base, yellow with purplish pink throat, obovate and up to 3 x1.9 cm. Staminal tube is stout & short.

Fruit: a globose capsule measuring 1.5 cm across, beake3d with reticulately veined wings, Seeds are tuberculate.

Frts &Flrs: July to December.

Note: Commonly found in hedges & waste places.

Kydia calycina Roxb.

Local name: Nayibende mara, Bellakana mara.

Habit: trees, to 12 meters high, branchlets woody and stellate.

Leaves: Entire/ovate-orbicular with angular lobes, seven nerved from cordate base. Often they are denticulate & globrous beneath, width of leaf is up to 15 x 15 cm.

Flowers: In panicles, white in colour, polygamous, sepals are persistent.

Fruit: fruits appear with a globose capsule not exceeding calyx [usually when leaves are shed].Seed is concentrically striated, glabrous, brownish and reniform, in each locule, measuring 3 x2 mm.

Note: Leaves & bark, a good source of fodder. The wood is soft, used in fencing, thatch work.

Hibiscus lobatus [Murr].

Local name: Kaadu daasavala

Habit: Erect, annual herbaceous plant, up to 60 -80 cm.

Leaves: Variable leaves, ovate –orbicular, serrate, often palmately 3-lobed, lower leaves broadly ovate.

Flowers: Axillary/in terminal lax racemes, white with pale purple centre. Calyx is deeply 5-lobed.

Fruits: A capsule, oblong-beaked , sometimes sparsely pubescent, measuring to 1.2 x0.5 cm, seeds minutely tuberculate.

Hibiscus schizopetalus [Mast] Hook.f.

Local name: Toogu daasavala, Japanese lantern.

Habit: An erect, branched shrub up to 3 meters, some time may exceed this.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, acuminate, glabrous, much resemblance with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves & evergreen.

Flowers: Red, showy, drooping, petals are frilly and finely divided and in many respects comparable with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers.

Flrs: Most part of the year.

Note: Cultivated in garden as an ornamental plant.

Hibiscus rosa –sinensis L.

Local name: Daasavala, Japakusuma.

Habit: An erect, branched shrub, up to 1-3 meters high.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, acuminate, serrate, glabrous, dark green, measuring about 10 x5.5 cm, often with small nectar on the mid rib.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary and usually erect, epicalyx 6-7 linear ,green, connate at base, calyx is companulate, corolla is with 5 petals, 5-20 cm in diameter, Staminal column up to 8 cm long, Staminal filaments 5-10 mm long lobed at apex. Ovary is conical, obtuse, 5 celled with many ovules in each cell. Style is slender, divided at apex, lobes -5, stigma is capitates and hairy.

Fruit: Very rare, an oblong, sparsely pubescent, matured seeds are reniform, glabrous, brownish black &about 5 mm long.

Hibiscus cannabinus L.

Common name: Pundi, Pundipalle gida.

Habit: Erect annual herbs with minute, curved prickles, often glabrous, up to 1-2 meters.

Leaves: Deeply 3-5 lobed, lower surface with scattered bristles on nerves, lobes are linear-oblong to base of calyx.

Flowers: Yellow coloured flowers with five petals, inside base of the flower is purple. The Staminal tube is up to 2 cm.

Ovary: Ovary is about 7x5 mm, ovoid, densely clothed with silvery, white hairs &5 – celled, stigma 5 branched.

Fruits: Dehiscent capsule, densely covered with stiff hairs. Seeds reniform with rounded angles, brownish black in colour, concentrically striated with minute stellate scales and measured about 4 mm long.

Note: Cultivated for its tender leaves, young fruits & fiber in home yards.

Flrs & Frts: August –November.

Hibiscus ovalifolius [Forks.]

Common name: Sanna Daasavala, Loppale gida.

Habit: An erect, straggling herb, up to 60 Cm high.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, sometimes 3-lobed, serrate, acute, hirsute and up to 4.4 x3 cm.

Stipules: Linear & narrow.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary and white/dull rosy in colour.

Bracteoles: Five, fused at base with calyx, linear hirsute.

Calyx: Five, free almost, to base, lobes linear, acute green, hirsute.

Corolla: White in colour, reflexed backwards, up to 1 cm long, staminal tube is white & antheriferous at apex.

Ovary: Globose, ovules three in each cell, style branched.

Fruit: Fruit is dehiscent, globose capsule, seeds hairy –silky.

Flrs & Frts: January to May & July to November.

Flrs & Frts: April to January

Note: a much cultivated species of cotton.

Malvaviscus penduliflorous [DC] [Malvaviscus arboreus]

Common name: Toogu Daasavala

Habit: An erect, branched shrub, up to 4 m tall. The younger parts of the stem are pubescent. The stem is terete, glabrous & green.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, broadly ovate, coarsely toothed, three lobed. The upper surface is rough, leaf blade measures to 10-15 x5-8 cm.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, scarlet, 5-6 cm long, do not open fully.

Note: Extensively grown as an ornamental plant, various forms are cultivated for flowers at different shade, including variegated leaves.

Urena lobata L.

Common name: Kaadu tutti gida.

Habit: An erect branched, tomentosa herbs or shrubs, up to 60 cm.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, lobed, lobes toothed, acute, deeply sinuate with gland at the base of midrib, on the lower surface, measuring up to 4x1 cm.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, epicalyx 5, adnate to calyx at base.

Calyx: 5, fused into a tube at base, lobes linear, acute. Corolla 5, pink in colour, up to 1 cm long. Staminal tube is narrow& antheriferous below apex, anthers shortly stalked.

Style: 10 branched, stigma capitates.

Ovary: 5 celled, ovules solitary in each cell.

Fruit: A schizocarp, glochidiate, hairy, indehiscent.

Seeds: reniform, angular, glabrescent.

Flrs & Frts: July to December, more over in February.

Pavonia burchelli

Common name: Baalarakkasi gida.

Habit: Under shrubs to 50 cm, prostrate stem, terete, green, simply pubescent, and easily mistaken for an Abutilon, when not in flower.

Leaves: Broadly ovate/ sub orbicular, often 3 –angled, base cordate, acute to acuminate at apex. 5-7 nerved from base, irregularly crenate- dentate margins. Leaf measures about 3-5 x2-4.5 cm. The upper & lower surface of leaf is pubescent; petiole is about 2-3 cm long, stipules present.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, corolla lemon –yellow, sometimes with a reddish centre. Staminal column is about 3 m long, shorter than petals, antheriferous throughout.

Fruit: A slightly compressed schizocarp.

Abutilon hirtum [Lamk.] Sweet.

Common name: Tutti gida.

Habit: An erect, woody sub shrub, up to 1.5 meter high, branchlets viscid.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, broadly ovate, serrate, acute, light green above, glaucous below.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, golden yellow with sulphreous in odor. Petals -5, inside base purplish, obovate. Pedicel 2.5 -3.5 cm.

Calyx: Companulate, 4 mm. sepals 5, ovate, 8x5 mm, apex acuminate, and minutely pubescent. Seeds reniform, 2mm 3- per cell, densely stiff, stellate pubescent.

Flrs & Frts: July to January.

Malvastrum coromondalianum L. Garck

Common name: Sanna bindige gida.

Habit: a small, erect or prostrate woody herb. Stem and branches covered with stiff appressed hairs.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, serrate, acute, dark green, scattered hairy. Five nerved from rounded to truncate base. Shape varies from ovate to ovate lanceolate. Stipules linear –lanceolate, acuminate & hairy.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, yellow. Calyx: companulate, 4 mm, long, 5- lobed, lobes are triangular, acute, and hirsute.

Corolla: 5, yellow fused at base, obovate to 6mm, staminal column is about 3 mm & filaments are about 1.5 mm.

Fruit: A schizocarp, 3 x6 mm, not exceeding calyx, mericarps reniform & awns with paired apical hooks. One seed per mericarp, compressed, glabrous.

Flrs & Frts: July to September.

Sida rhambifolia L.

Common name: Bolangadale gida.

Habit: Erect, under shrubs, up to 75 cm, branchlets stellate, tomentosa. The branches are spreading to the ground. Stem is dark purple.

Leaves: Vary in shape, alternate, simple, rhomboid, minutely hirsute, dentate, up to 4 x2.5 cm. Basally 3 – nerved, glaucous below.

Flowers: Axillary. Solitary & yellow in colour.

Calyx: Lobes 5, cup shaped, triangular, 6 mm long. Corolla is slightly longer than the calyx.

Fruit: A schizocarp, awned, shorter than the calyx , 7-10 single seeded mericarps with ovoid seeds measuring 1.5 mm.

Flrs & Frts: October to January.

Sida spinosa L.

Common name: Kaadumentya.

Habit: a diffused, suffruticose herb, grows up to 40 -100 cm.

Leaves: Alternate, elliptic to ovate, obtuse to truncate at base, dentate, sparsely pubescent to tomentosa beneath. Stipules narrow, linear with a pair of spines at their base [leaving spine like scars].

Flowers: In most axils, solitary.

Calyx: Companulate. 4 mm, long, 5-lobed, lobes are triangular, acute, and hirsute.

Corolla: 5, yellow, fused at base, obovate to 6 mm. Staminal column 3 mm, filaments up to 1.5 mm long.

Fruit: a schizocarp, separating into single seeded mericarps, awned.

Flrs & Frts: Throughout the year.

Sida cordifolia L.

Common name: Bala, Hettutti, Balamoola.

Habit: Erect, much branched, velvety sub shrub, often gregarious, up to 30 cm high.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, cordate, crenate-dentate, velvety, tomentosa, stellately hairy & measuring to 1.5 -5 x1.2 – 3 cm.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, pedicels longer than the petiole, yellow coloured flower.

Calyx: Cup shaped lobes, triangular, acute, and densely pubescent outside [velvety], corolla yellow.

Fruits: A schizocarp, separating into mericarp, awned, tuberculate on walls, Awns longer than the calyx.

Flrs & Frts: Throughout the year.

Sida cordata [Burm.f.] Borss

Common name: Bekkinatale gida

Habit: Trailing herbs, with long, hairy slender branches.

Leaves: Broadly ovate/orbicular, sometimes , shallowly triangular. Base cordate, acute to acuminate at apex. 5-7 basal nerves present, leaf margin is serrate-crenate, above & beneath pubescent. Petioles 0.5-4 cm long, stipules present, 1-2 mm long. Leaf blades measures about 1.7x 1.5 cm.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, filiform, pedicels measuring up to 2.5 cm.

Calyx: Widely companulate, corolla 9-10 mm in diameter, orange yellow in colour.

Fruits: A schizocarp, 2.5 mm long, mericarps trigonous with rounded angles. Smooth on sides & back.

Flrs & Frts: October to January.

Sida mysorensis W. & A.

Common name: Antututtigida

Habit: Erect annual herbs, under shrubs with sticky [viscid] hairs.

Leaves: Broadly ovate, sometimes orbicular, Base cordate, acute to acuminate at apex. 5-7 nerved at base, 3-4 pairs lateral nerves. Petioles about 3-4 cm long. Stipules present, measuring 5-7 mm long, linear /filiform.

Flowers: Axillary/ fascicled, yellow, calyx companulate, about 7mm x4 mm, lobes 5, triangular, acute at apex, densely velvety. Corolla about 10mm in diameter, orange- yellow/yellow, obovate, emarginated/retuse at apex.

Fruits: a schizocarp, about 3 mm long, glabrous, mericarps 5, 3 x2.5 mm. seeds 2 mm, reniform, glabrous throughout.

Flrs & Frts: October to February

Note : Common in fences & waste places.