Hibiscus aethiopicus var. aethiopicus

Hibiscus aethiopicus var. aethiopicus, commonly known as the common dwarf wild hibiscus, is a sprawling to prostrate perennial that grows annual stems of about 30 cm. It resprouts from the woody rootstock after fire. The plant is variable across its distribution range.

The leaves are elliptic, sometimes hairy and have serrated margins.

This variety grows widespread, found in the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West, as well as in some neighbouring states including Lesotho and Swaziland, Mozambique and further to the tropical north and in Ethiopia. The photo was taken at the Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.

The habitat is open scrub, grassland and marshy areas. The variety is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

The plant has medicinal properties (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).