Calyx and epicalyx morphology in Indian Hibiscus L. (Malvaceae) with its taxonomic importance
Data files
Mar 03, 2026 version files 2.44 MB
Abstract
Hibisceae is one of the largest tribes in Malvaceae having diverse floral morphology. Genus Hibiscus shows wide range of evolutionary patterns in calyx and epicalyx morphology. Genera like Abelmoschus, Azanza, Gossypium, Hibiscus, and Thespesia are separated on the basis of calyx and epicalyx morphology, that means calyx and epicalyx have great significance in the delimitation of the genera and infrageneric taxa in Hibiscus. Present manuscript deals with the detailed calyx and epicalyx morphology in Indian Hibiscus, its taxonomic implications, and to interpret the evolutionary interrelationship among the species of Hibiscus from India.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5qfttdzmr
Description of the data and file structure
The data was collected to study the diversity of Hibiscus species in India and their morphological traits to carryout evolution and interrelationship among the species. The calyx and epicalyx morphology is very peculiar character for grouping the Hibiscus species, similarly it helps in delimiting related genera.
Files and variables
File: Figure 1 Floral_Characters_of_Taxonomic_Importance_and_Calyx_Diversity_in_Hibiscus.JPG
Description: Hibiscus is most diverse genus of Malvaceae and floral characters of Hibiscus are very peculiar in each of the sections. The figure 1A shows the floral characters such size of flower, color of flower, pattern in flower, calyx structure, calyx indumentum and calyx size also matters in classification and identification of Hibiscus species. Figure 1 A describes the important floral characters in genus Hibiscus. The calyx is one of the most important characters which helps in clustering allied species eg. the half of the species in sect. Furcaria have nectaries on centre of each sepal. The calyx of sect. Trionum is bladder like and the calyx in sect. Lilibiscus is tubular.
File: Figure 2 Diversity_of_Epicalyx_and_evolution_in_epicalyx.JPG
Description: Epicalyx helps in distinguish between closely related genera like Abelmoschus, Thespsia, Azanza and Hibiscus. For example, Hibiscus typically has numerous narrow epicalyx segments, while Gossypium (cotton) has three large, leafy, heart-shaped segments. In Hibiscus itself the nature of epicalyx helps to cluster the species eg. Sect. Azanza has ovate to foliaceous epicalyx segment and Sect. Solandra shows absence of epicalyx segments. Whereas the remaining sections show various patterns and architecture. The figure 2 shows the diversity and evolutionary pattern in epicalyx of Hibiscus