The genus Dombeya consists of 196 accepted species, and is found naturally in most of tropical and southern Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean Islands. Of the 196 species, South Africa has 7 species of Dombeya listed.  

The family, Malvaceae, features some well-known garden plants, such as hibiscus (Hibiscus L.) and marshmallow (Althaea L.). The iconic baobab trees (Adansonia L.) are also members of the family.

The name of this genus honours Joseph Dombey (1742–1794 or 6), a French botanist who worked in Peru and Chile. Dombey was in fact a medical physician, but travelled as a botanist to South America. It appears that, while he was a prolific and able botanist, his efforts were undermined by misfortune. He lost specimens and illustrations several times, once due to capture of the ship transporting them, by the British. His pressed plants were sent to the British Museum, where they are still to be found. At other times he suffered confiscation of his material by local or Spanish authorities, seemingly on various pretexts. Some of his work was given to other botanists for publication. On his eventual return to Europe, he was reportedly imprisoned in Cadiz, for fear that he might reveal the ‘theft’ and publication of his work by other botanists. He escaped back to France, where he was provided with an indemnity and a pension. His misfortune continued however, as he was captured by privateers on his way to the United States where he had been sent. He was held in Montserrat, an island in the Caribbean, where he died in prison.

The species name, autumnalis, indicates the flowering time of this particular species.