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@Mods: Please see my post here before you move this post.





Are these pix all the same plant? Is it perhaps some sort of wild hibiscus?

Hi arks,

Pics 1 - 3 are indeed Wild Hibiscus (Hibiscus Engleri)
1 of several yellow-flowered hibiscus typified by 5 large petals and branched style. These plants are slender shrubs or small trees with rough leaves and branches. The leaves are usually lobed with tooth margins and are covered with rough hairs. The large cup-shaped flowers are scattered along the branches on thin stalks. They are often yellow with a dark eye; the flowers are very delicate and last only a day before wilting; fresh ones open each morning.

The last one (bottom right) however is Hibiscus cannabinus (Hemp-leaved Hibiscus)
Some places it is cultivated for the fiber in its stem, that is an important raw material in paper production and woven fabrics.

Thanks, JB!! I really had NO idea these were two different sorts of hibiscus and now wish I'd noticed the differences — something to do next time I guess the one on the bottom right is also more like a hollyhock (tall stalk with several flowers) than a shrub?

@DQ: Now with this post, I can see that it ends up being two different topics

Yes arks that (flowers also more solitary) and also if you look closely you'll see the stems of the flowers +/ buds are much closer to the main stem than the others.
Flowers usually more a pale yellow or cream with a dark purple centre.
“cannabinus” because the leaves (3 to 7 lobbed) resembles that of Cannabis (Cannabis sativus) - marijuana for those who don't know

Some more interesting uses (other than just the fiber (kenaf or Deccan hemp): Leaves, flowers and young fruit cooked as a green vegetable. Seed oil used medicinally and in oil lamps.