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Sabdariffa acetosella

(Welw. ex Hiern) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett (2025)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Sabdariffa

cranberry hibiscus, false roselle

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Potentially naturalizing

Island Status

O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Austral. Syst. Bot. 38-SB24013: 24 (2025)

Other References

Staples & Herbst 2005:387 (KEY), 388 (DESCR [as Hibiscus acetosella]); Oppenheimer & Pezzillo 2024:66 (WM?, [as H. acetosella, adventive, Olowalu, Kahana]); Barrett et al. 2025:24 (COMBNOV, Syn. H. acetosella = S. acetosella, KEY)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Sabdariffa acetosella West Maui, Lahaina Dist., Kahana Cultivated, but a garden escape that could become naturalized if grown in suitable habitat. Preserved_Specimen Shrubs to 1.5 m tall; flowers and foliage burgundy. Oppenheimer, H.L. 110506 Maui BISH 2005-11-14
2 Sabdariffa acetosella Foster Botanic Garden Plant potted and in full sun. Preserved_Specimen A plant consisting of 2 major wand-like branches 1.5 m. long. Foliage blood red to maroon. Flower light brown overlayed with crimson except for the basal inner portions of the petals which are blackish red. Lau, J. 1658 Oahu BISH 1985-11-19
3 Sabdariffa acetosella West Maui, Olowalu Growing in an abandoned field near where a small nursery was located. Preserved_Specimen 2.5ft tall plants. Hobdy, R.W. 4196 Maui BISH 2004-12-15
4 Sabdariffa acetosella Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Lyon Arboretum; forming 4 ft. hedge along road, Section 35 Preserved_Specimen Leaves, stems red. Flowers with dark pink petals. Ishikawa, S. 369 Oahu BISH 1974-01-03
5 Sabdariffa acetosella Lyon Arboretum; along roadside, Sect. 35 Preserved_Specimen Height to 4 ft. Flowers reddish, with purple eye. Nagata, K.M. 1210 Oahu BISH 1973-11-05
6 Sabdariffa acetosella Lyon Arboretum; along roadside, Sect. 35 Preserved_Specimen Height to 4 ft. Entire plant reddish-purple. Flowers reddish with purple eye. Nagata, K.M. 1213 Oahu BISH 1973-09-05
7 Sabdariffa acetosella Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen Shrub; leaves and stems red-purple; flowers raspberry colored, petals 1 in. long x 1/2 inch wide. Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1957-12-30
8 Sabdariffa acetosella Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Shrub about 7 ft. tall. Uehara, S. Oahu BISH 1962-04-02
9 Sabdariffa acetosella Mokuleia; Waialua Preserved_Specimen Quick-growing shrub. Degener, O. 24998 Oahu BISH 1957-10-01
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