Hibiskus rhodanthus (Malvaceae) : an interesting plant species in Southeastern Africa

Hibiscus rhodanthus Gürke ex Schinz (Malvaceae) is a small plant with bright red flowers, herbaceous in the above-ground parts and permanently woody in the underground rootstock. It belongs to the ‘geoxylic suffrutices’, a group of pyrophytes. The author had an opportunity to observe H. rhodanthus in Zambia, Southeastern Africa. This paper contains information on the genus Hibiscus L., the morphology of the studied species, and the vegetation and climate of Zambia. Newly ascertained localities of H. rhodanthus are listed, and data on its occurrence on two permanent plots in tall-grass savanna near Lusaka are given. The above-ground parts of H. rhodanthus usually develop soon after burning of vegetation, mainly in the second part of the dry season. Flowers may occur first, then stems and leaves, in full development during the rainy season. The geographic distribution and theories of the origin of ‘geoxylic suffrutices’ are discussed.