Hibiscus insularis

Location & distribution maps

Common name:         ...

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

• This species is listed as Critically Endangered under Australian federal environment legislation

• The entire natural extent of this species is just two small clumps, and each clump apparently consists of multiple separate stems of a single genotype

• It has been propagated and planted more widely on Phillip Island, but only vegetatively which does not increase the genetic diversity

• Seedlings apparently have not been observed in the wild

• Horticultural use of the Philip Island hibiscus has greatly increased the number of plants (though not in its natural environment) but as it is usually propagated by cuttings the number of genotypes is still extremely small

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• It produces greenish-yellow flowers that fade to mauve through most of the year

Fruit:                         

Leaves:         

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

Habitat:   

Distribution:                  

• Endemic to Phillip Island, a small island to the south of Norfolk Island, Australia

Additional notes:     

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_insularis (2024)