''Hibiscus'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the mallow family,

Malvaceae Malvaceae (), or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include Theobroma cacao, cacao, Cola (plant), cola, cotton, okra, Hibiscus sabdariffa, ...

. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to warm

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones immediately to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Ge ...

and

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

regions throughout the world. Member species are renowned for their large, showy flowers and those species are commonly known simply as "hibiscus", or less widely known as rose mallow. The genus includes both annual and

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...

s, as well as woody

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

s and small trees. Several species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, notably '' Hibiscus syriacus'' and ''Hibiscus'' × ''rosa-sinensis''. A tea made from the flowers of '' Hibiscus sabdariffa'' is known by many names around the world and is served both hot and cold. The beverage is known for its red colour, tart flavour, and

Vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits, berries and vegetables. It is also a generic prescription medication and in some countries is sold as a non-prescription di ...

content.

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

name ἰβίσκος (''ibískos'') which Greek botanist

Pedanius Dioscorides Pedanius Dioscorides (, ; 40–90 AD), "the father of pharmacognosy", was a Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of (in the original , , both meaning "On Medical Material") , a 5-volume Greek encyclopedic pharmacopeia on he ...

gave to a plant now scientifically labelled as ''

Althaea officinalis ''Althaea officinalis'', the marsh mallow or marshmallow, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, which is used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant. Description This herbaceous perennial plant, ...

''.

Description

The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are

alternate Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an alternative to mainstream superh ...

, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin ( dentate). The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are large and conspicuous. They are trumpet-shaped, with five or more

petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...

s, colour from white to pink, red, blue, orange, peach, yellow or purple, and from 4–18 cm broad. Hibiscus flower uploaded by Vijayanrajapuram 02

Flower colour in certain species, such as '' H. mutabilis'' and '' H. tiliaceus'', changes with age. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

s in each lobe, which are released when the capsule dehisces (splits open) at maturity. It is of red and white colours. It is an example of complete flowers.

Species

The yellow hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii, although the most commonly seen hibiscus in the state is ''Hibiscus'' × ''rosa-sinensis''. In temperate zones, probably the most commonly grown ornamental species is '' Hibiscus syriacus'', the common garden hibiscus, also known in some areas as the "rose of Althea" or "rose of Sharon" (but not to be confused with the unrelated '' Hypericum calycinum'', also called "rose of Sharon"). In tropical and subtropical areas, the Chinese hibiscus (''H.'' × ''rosa-sinensis''), with its many showy hybrids, is the most popular hibiscus. Several hundred species are known, including: *'' Hibiscus acapulcensis'' Fryxell *'' Hibiscus acetosella'' Welw. ex Hiern. – false roselle *'' Hibiscus aculeatus'' — comfortroot *'' Hibiscus aethiopicus'' L. *'' Hibiscus aponeurus'' *'' Hibiscus × archeri'' — red hibiscus *'' Hibiscus arnottianus'' A.Gray — ''kokiʻo Keʻokeʻo(

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

) *'' Hibiscus bifurcatus'' — fork-bracted rosemallow *'' Hibiscus biseptus'' — Arizona rosemallow *'' Hibiscus boryanus'' — foulsapate marron (Mauritius and Réunion) *'' Hibiscus brackenridgei'' A.Gray — Hawaiian hibiscus ''maʻo hau hele'' *'' Hibiscus caesius'' — dark-eyed hibiscus (southwestern Tanzania to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

) *'' Hibiscus calyphyllus'' — lemonyellow rosemallow (

tropical Africa The Afrotropical realm is one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Sub-Saharan Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It was formerly known as the Ethiopi ...

) *'' Hibiscus cameronii'' — Cameron's hibiscus, pink hibiscus *'' Hibiscus cannabinus'' L. —

Kenaf Kenaf tymology: Persian ''Hibiscus cannabinus'', is a plant in the family Malvaceae also called Deccan hemp and Java jute. ''Hibiscus cannabinus'' is in the genus ''Hibiscus'' and is native to Africa, though its exact origin is unknown. The n ...

*'' Hibiscus cisplatinus'' *'' Hibiscus clayi'' O.Deg. & I.Deg.— Hawaiian red hibiscus (Hawaii) *'' Hibiscus clypeatus'' — Congo mahoe *'' Hibiscus coccineus'' ( Medik.)

Walter Walter may refer to: People and fictional characters * Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...

— scarlet rosemallow *'' Hibiscus columnaris'' — mahot rempart *'' Hibiscus cooperi'' *'' Hibiscus coulteri'' — desert rosemallow *'' Hibiscus dasycalyx'' — Neches River rosemallow *'' Hibiscus denudatus''

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

—pale face (

Southwestern US The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that includes Arizona and New Mexico, along with adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...

, Northwestern

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

) *'' Hibiscus dioscorides'' (Yemen) *'' Hibiscus diriffan'' A.G.Mill. (Yemen) *'' Hibiscus diversifolius''— swamp hibiscus *'' Hibiscus elatus'' – mahoe *'' Hibiscus engleri'' – wild hibiscus *'' Hibiscus erlangeri'' (Ethiopia and Somalia) *'' Hibiscus escobariae'' *'' Hibiscus fragilis'' DC.—mandrinette (

Mascarene Islands The Mascarene Islands (, ) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of Réunion. Their na ...

) *'' Hibiscus furcellatus'' Desr.—lindenleaf rosemallow (

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, Hawaii) *'' Hibiscus genevei'' Bojer (Mauritius) *'' Hibiscus grandiflorus'' Michx. — swamp rosemallow ( Southeastern US) *'' Hibiscus grewiifolius'' *'' Hibiscus hamabo'' *'' Hibiscus hastatus'' *'' Hibiscus heterophyllus'' — native rosella *'' Hibiscus hirtus'' — lesser mallow *'' Hibiscus hispidissimus'' *'' Hibiscus hybridus'' *'' Hibiscus insularis'' Endl. — Phillip Island hibiscus (

Phillip Island Phillip Island (Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung: ''Corriong'', ''Worne'' or ''Millowl'') is an Australian island about south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. The island is named after Arthur Phillip, Governor Arthur P ...

) *'' Hibiscus kaute'' *'' Hibiscus kokio''—red rosemallow *'' Hibiscus laevis'' All. (=''H. militaris'') — halberd-leaved rosemallow (central and eastern North America) *'' Hibiscus lasiocarpos'' — woolly rosemallow *'' Hibiscus leptocladus'' (Northwest Australia) *'' Hibiscus lilacinus'' — lilac hibiscus *'' Hibiscus liliiflorus'' — Rodrigues tree hibiscus *'' Hibiscus lunariifolius'' *'' Hibiscus macilwraithensis'' (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

) *'' Hibiscus macrophyllus'' — largeleaf rosemallow *'' Hibiscus macropodus'' *'' Hibiscus makinoi'' — Okinawan hibiscus *'' Hibiscus malacophyllus'' Balf.f. (Yemen) *'' Hibiscus martianus''— heartleaf rosemallow *'' Hibiscus mesnyi'' Pierre ex Laness. (Vietnam endemic) *'' Hibiscus moscheutos'' L. — crimsoneyed rosemallow (Central and Eastern North America) *''

Hibiscus mutabilis ''Hibiscus mutabilis'', also known as the Confederate rose, Dixie rosemallow, cotton rose or cotton rosemallow, is a plant long cultivated for its showy flowers. Originally native to southern China, it is now found on all continents except Antarc ...

'' L. — cotton rosemallow, Confederate rose (East Asia) *'' Hibiscus paramutabilis'' *'' Hibiscus phoeniceus'' — Brazilian rosemallow *'' Hibiscus platanifolius'' *'' Hibiscus pusillus'' Thunb. - bladderweed *'' Hibiscus quattenensis'' *'' Hibiscus poeppigii'' — Poeppig's rosemallow *'' Hibiscus radiatus'' — monarch rosemallow * ''Hibiscus'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' L. — Chinese hibiscus (

East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...

) *'' Hibiscus sabdariffa'' L. — roselle, omutete, or sorrel *'' Hibiscus schizopetalus'' — fringed rosemallow *'' Hibiscus scottii'' *'' Hibiscus socotranus'' *'' Hibiscus sinosyriacus'' *'' Hibiscus splendens'' *'' Hibiscus stenanthus'' Balf.f. (Yemen) *'' Hibiscus striatus'' — striped rosemallow *'' Hibiscus sturtii'' (

) *'' Hibiscus syriacus'' L. (type species) — rose of Sharon (Asia) *'' Hibiscus taiwanensis'' S.Y. Hu *'' Hibiscus tiliaceus'' L. — sea hibiscus (Australia,

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

Oceania Oceania ( , ) is a region, geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Outside of the English-speaking world, Oceania is generally considered a continent, while Mainland Australia is regarded as its co ...

) *'' Hibiscus tozerensis'' (Australia) *'' Hibiscus trilobus''—threelobe rosemallow *''

Hibiscus trionum ''Hibiscus trionum'', commonly called flower-of-an-hour, bladder hibiscus, bladder ketmia, bladder weed, puarangi and venice mallow, is an annual plant native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. It has spread throughout southern Europe bot ...

'' L. — flower-of-an-hour *'' Hibiscus vitifolius'' — tropical rose mallow *'' Hibiscus waimeae'' A.Heller — ''kokiʻo keʻokeʻo'' (Hawaii)

Formerly placed in the genus

*'' Abelmoschus esculentus'' (L.) Moench (as ''H. esculentus'' L.) *'' Abelmoschus ficulneus'' (L.) Wight & Arn. (as ''H. ficulneus'' L.) * ''Abelmoschus manihot'' subsp. ''manihot'' (as ''H. manihot'' L.) * ''Abelmoschus manihot'' var. ''pungens'' (Roxb.) Hochr. (as ''H. pungens'' Roxb.) * ''Abelmoschus manihot'' var. ''tetraphyllus'' (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Borss. Waalk. (as ''H. tetraphyllus'' Roxb. ex Hornem.) * ''Abelmoschus moschatus'' subsp. ''moschatus'' (as ''H. abelmoschus'' L.) * ''Abelmoschus moschatus'' subsp. ''tuberosus'' (Span.) Borss. Waalk. (as ''H. sagittifolius'' Kurz) *'' Alyogyne cuneiformis'' (DC.) Lewton (as ''H. cuneiformis'' DC.) *'' Alyogyne hakeifolia'' (Giord.) Alef. (as ''H. hakeifolius'' Giord.) *'' Alyogyne huegelii'' (Endl.) Fryxell (as ''H. wrayae'' Lindl.) *'' Alyogyne pinoniana'' (Gaudich.) Fryxell (as ''H. pinonianus'' Gaudich.) *'' Firmiana simplex'' (L.) W.Wight (as ''H. simplex'' L.) * ''Lagunaria patersonia'' subsp. ''patersonia'' (as ''H. patersonius'' Andrews) *'' Kosteletzkya adoensis'' (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Mast. (as ''H. adoensis'' Hochst. ex A.Rich.) *'' Kosteletzkya pentacarpos'' (L.) Ledeb. (as ''H. pentacarpos'' L.) *'' Kosteletzkya tubiflora'' (DC.) Blanch. & McVaugh (as ''H. tubiflorus'' DC.) *'' Kosteletzkya virginica'' (L.) C.Presl ex A.Gray (as ''H. virginicus'' L.) *'' Pavonia arabica'' Hochst. & Steud. ex Boiss. (as ''H. flavus'' Forssk.) *'' Pavonia spinifex'' (L.) Cav. (as ''H. spinifex'' L.) *'' Radyera farragei'' (F.Muell.) Fryxell & S.H.Hashmi (as ''H. farragei'' F.Muell.) *'' Thespesia lampas'' (Cav.) Dalzell (as ''H. lampas'' Cav.) *'' Thespesia populnea'' (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa (as ''H. populneoides'' Roxb. or ''H. populneus'' L.)

Uses

Landscaping

Many species are grown for their showy

s or used as landscape

s, and are used to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Hibiscus is a very hardy, versatile plant and in tropical conditions it can enhance the beauty of any garden. Being versatile it adapts itself easily to balcony gardens in crammed urban spaces and can be easily grown in pots as a creeper or even in hanging pots. It is a perennial and flowers throughout the year. As it comes in a variety of colors, it's a plant which can add vibrancy to any garden. The only infestation that gardeners need to be vigilant about is

mealybug Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Of the more than 2,000 described species, many are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and ...

s. Mealybug infestations are easy to spot as they are clearly visible as a distinct white cottony infestation on buds, leaves or even stems.

Paper

One species of ''Hibiscus'', known as

kenaf Kenaf tymology: Persian ''Hibiscus cannabinus'', is a plant in the family Malvaceae also called Deccan hemp and Java jute. ''Hibiscus cannabinus'' is in the genus ''Hibiscus'' and is native to Africa, though its exact origin is unknown. The n ...

(''Hibiscus cannabinus''), is extensively used in

paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...

-making.

Rope and construction

The inner bark of the sea hibiscus ('' Hibiscus tiliaceus''), also called 'hau', is used in Polynesia for making rope, and the wood for making canoe floats. The ropes on the missionary ship '' Messenger of Peace'' were made of fibres from hibiscus trees.

Beverage

The tea made of the calyces of '' Hibiscus sabdariffa'' is known by many names in many countries around the world and is served both hot and cold. The beverage is well known for its red colour, tartness and unique flavour. Additionally, it is highly nutritious because of its vitamin C content. It is known as ''bissap'' in West Africa, "Gul e Khatmi" in Urdu & Persian, ''agua de jamaica'' in Mexico and Central America (the flower being'' flor de jamaica'') and ''Orhul'' in India. Some refer to it as ''roselle'', a common name for the hibiscus flower. In

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...

and many other islands in the Caribbean, the drink is known as ''sorrel'' ('' Hibiscus sabdariffa''; not to be confused with ''

Rumex acetosa Sorrel (''Rumex acetosa''), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock ("dock" being a common name for the genus ''Ru ...

'', a species sharing the common name ''sorrel''). In Ghana, the drink is known as ''soobolo'' in one of the local languages. In

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

, a cold beverage can be prepared by first steeping the petals in hot water until the colors are leached from the petals, then adding lime juice (which turns the beverage from dark brown/red to a bright red), sweeteners (sugar/honey) and finally cold water/ice cubes. In Egypt and Sudan, hibiscus tea is known as ''karkadé'' (كركديه), and is served as both a hot and a cold drink. Hibiscus (also known in Sri Lanka as shoe flower, සපත්තු මල, වද මල in Sinhalese) is an ingredient with a rich heritage of refreshing Lankans. Fresh juices, ice teas and syrups made of the Hibiscus flower are famous refreshments among Sri Lankans.

Food

Dried hibiscus is edible, and it is often a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be candied and used as a garnish, usually for desserts. Contrary to popular assumptions that the flowers or petals are what is being eaten, it is the calyces. The roselle (''Hibiscus sabdariffa'') is used as a

vegetable Vegetables are edible parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. This original meaning is still commonly used, and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including edible flower, flo ...

. The species ''Hibiscus suratensis'' Linn synonymous with ''Hibiscus aculeatus'' G. Don is noted in

Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; Filipino language, Filipino: ''Kabisayaan'' ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, a ...

in the Philippines as being a souring ingredient for almost all local vegetables and menus. Known as labog in the Visayan area (or labuag/sapinit in Tagalog), the species is an ingredient in cooking native chicken soup. ''Hibiscus'' species are used as food plants by the

larvae A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect developmental biology, development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typical ...

of some

lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

n species, including '' Chionodes hibiscella'', '' Hypercompe hambletoni'', the nutmeg moth, and the turnip moth.

Folk medicine

''Hibiscus'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' is described as having a number of medical uses in Indian Ayurveda.Plants for a Future: ''Hibiscus rosa-sinensis''
(accessed 07/05/2009)

Claimed effects on blood pressure

It has been claimed that sour teas derived from '' Hibiscus sabdariffa'' may lower blood pressure.

Precautions and contraindications

Pregnancy and lactation

While the mechanism is not well understood, previous animal studies have demonstrated both an inhibitory effect of ''H. sabdariffa'' on

muscle tone In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone (residual muscle tension or tonus) is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles, or the muscle's resistance to passive stretch during resting state.O’Sullivan, S. B. (2007) ...

and the anti-fertility effects of ''H.'' × ''rosa-sinensis'', respectively. The extract of ''H. sabdariffa'' has been shown to stimulate contraction of the rat bladder and uterus; the ''H.'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' extract has exhibited contraceptive effects in the form of

estrogen Estrogen (also spelled oestrogen in British English; see spelling differences) is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three ...

activity in rats. These findings have not been observed in humans. The ''H.'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' is also thought to have

emmenagogue Emmenagogues (also spelled ''emmenagogs'') are herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus; some stimulate menstruation. Women may use emmenagogues to stimulate menstrual flow when menstruation is absent for reasons other than pr ...

effects which can stimulate

menstruation Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and Mucous membrane, mucosal tissue from the endometrium, inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized ...

and, in some women, cause an

abortion Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnan ...

. Due to the documented adverse effects in animal studies and the reported pharmacological properties, the ''H. sabdariffa'' and ''H.'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' are not recommended for use during

pregnancy Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring gestation, gestates inside a woman's uterus. A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Conception (biology), Conception usually occurs ...

Drug interactions

It is postulated that ''H. sabdariffa'' interacts with

diclofenac Diclofenac, sold under the brand name Voltaren among others, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as gout. It can be taken orally (swallowed by mouth), inserted rectally as a ...

chloroquine Chloroquine is an antiparasitic medication that treats malaria. It works by increasing the levels of heme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading. Certain types ...

and acetaminophen by altering the

pharmacokinetics Pharmacokinetics (from Ancient Greek ''pharmakon'' "drug" and ''kinetikos'' "moving, putting in motion"; see chemical kinetics), sometimes abbreviated as PK, is a branch of pharmacology dedicated to describing how the body affects a specific su ...

. In healthy human volunteers, the ''H. sabdariffa'' extract was found to reduce the excretion of diclofenac upon co-administration. Additionally, co-administration of Karkade (''H. sabdariffa''), a common Sudanese beverage, was found to reduce chloroquine

bioavailability In pharmacology, bioavailability is a subcategory of absorption and is the fraction (%) of an administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation. By definition, when a medication is administered intravenously, its bioavailability is 100%. H ...

. However, no statistically significant changes were observed in the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen when administered with the Zobo (''H. sabdariffa'') drink. Further studies are needed to demonstrate clinical significance.

Symbolism and culture

The red hibiscus is the flower of the

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In some faiths, a sacred female figure holds a central place in religious prayer and worship. For example, Shaktism (one of the three major Hinduism, Hindu sects), holds that the ultimate deity, the source of all re ...

Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...

, and appears frequently in depictions of her in the art of

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

, India, often with the goddess and the flower merging in form. The hibiscus is used as an offering to Kali and the god

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

in Hindu worship. In the Philippines, the ''gumamela'' (the local name for hibiscus) is used by children as part of a bubble-making pastime. The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out. Hollow

papaya The papaya (, ), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant species ''Carica papaya'', one of the 21 accepted species in the genus '' Carica'' of the family Caricaceae, and also the name of its fruit. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within ...

stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles. Together with soap, hibiscus juices produce more bubbles. It is also called "Tarukanga" in Waray, particularly in Eastern Samar province. The hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Pacific island women, and is a known shared custom that if the flower is worn behind the left ear, the woman is married or has a boyfriend. If the flower is worn on the right, she is single or openly available for a relationship. The pink hibiscus flower has its origins in Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it has served as a symbol of beauty, femininity, and young love. It is commonly associated with the Hawaiian culture and the Aloha spirit, which celebrates love, happiness, and peace. A stylized image of the hibiscus flower was used as a logo of Air Polynésie.

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

author

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born Grace Ngozi Adichie; 15 September 1977) is a Nigerians, Nigerian writer of novels, short stories, poem, and children's books; she is also a book reviewer and literary critic. Her most famous works include ''Purple ...

named her first novel ''

Purple Hibiscus ''Purple Hibiscus'' is the first novel by the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It portrays Kambili Achike, a 15 year old Nigerian teenage girl who struggles in the shadow of her father, Eugene. Eugene is a successful businessman, a b ...

'' after the delicate flower. The bark of the hibiscus contains strong

bast fibre Bast fibre (also called phloem fibre or skin fibre) is plant fibre collected from the phloem (the "inner bark", sometimes called "skin") or bast surrounding the stem of certain dicotyledonous plants. Some of the economically important bast fibre ...

s that can be obtained by letting the stripped bark set in the sea to let the organic material rot away. A coastal area in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

is known as the

Hibiscus Coast The Hibiscus Coast is a populated area on a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast in New Zealand's Auckland Region. It has a population of making it the List of New Zealand urban areas by population, 10th most populous urban area in New Zealand, ...

, named after the non-native flower due to its associations with beach and holiday atmospheres.

As a national and state symbol

The hibiscus is a national symbol of

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

, and the national flower of nations including the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons,John Prados, ''Islands of Destiny'', Dutton Caliber, 2012, p,20 and passim is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 1000 smaller islands in Melanesia, part of Oceania, t ...

and

Niue Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia, and predominantly inhabited by Polynesians. One of the world's largest coral islands, Niue is c ...

. '' Hibiscus syriacus'' is the national flower of

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

, and ''Hibiscus'' × ''rosa-sinensis'' is the national flower of

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

. '' Hibiscus brackenridgei'' is the state flower of

References

External links

Plant of the Month: Hibiscus
at JSTOR Daily
American Hibiscus Society (AHS)Australian Hibiscus SocietyInternational Hibiscus Society
*Vicki J. Coldwel
Plant and care HibiscusFoundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions
* {{Authority control Medicinal plants Malvaceae genera National symbols of Haiti Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flowers in religion Articles containing video clips Constantly blooming plants