Hibiscus normanii F.Muell.

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1862) Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 3: 4. Type: In montibus insulae Palm Island freti Torresii. Henne.

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-1.5 m tall but also flowers when smaller.

Leaf blades ovate to lanceolate, and sometimes lobed, about 4-9 x 1.5-5 cm. Upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade, petioles, stems and stipules clothed in stiff stellate hairs. Stipules filiform, about 3-4 mm long.

Epicalyx of about 6-9 obovate segments each about 12-20 x 5-10 mm, clothed in stellate hairs. Calyx larger than the epicalyx, about 15-25 mm long, clothed in stellate hairs. Corolla lobes about 20-40 mm long, red on the inner and pink on the outer surface, outer surface clothed in stellate hairs and the inner surface clothed in simple hairs. Stamens and staminal column red. Pollen white. Stigmas red, adhering to one another.

Fruits obovoid, about 11-13 x 11 mm, 5-locular. Calyx and epicalyx persistent at the base. Seeds angular, about 4-5 x 3-4 mm, covered in light brown hairs. Cotyledons green.

Cotyledons almost orbicular, about 6-11 x 5-10 mm, petioles clothed in straight, erect hairs. First pair of leaves alternate, upper and lower surfaces clothed in stellate hairs, margins irregularly toothed, mainly towards the apex. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blades cordate, about 9 x 5 cm, both the upper and lower surfaces clothed in white stellate hairs, petiole about 15 mm long. Stipules linear, filiform, about 2-5 mm long, hairy. Terminal bud, petiole and stem also clothed in pale stellate hairs. Seed germination time 105 to 356 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards to south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range in CYP and NEQ from near sea level to 1000 m. Usually grows in open forest but also found in monsoon forest and vine thickets.