Dictionary:
hi·bis·cus (hī-bĭs'kəs)  |
[New Latin Hibīscus, genus name, from Late Latin hibīscus, variant of Latin hibīscum, marsh mallow, perhaps of Celtic origin.]
| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: hibiscus |
For more information on hibiscus, visit Britannica.com.
| Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia: Hibiscus |
Description
Hibiscus is the name given to more than 250 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the mallow or Malvaceae family. The most commonly used species of hibiscus for medicinal purposes are Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly known as the roselle; Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also called China rose and common hibiscus; and Hibiscus syriacus, known as the Rose of Sharon. These three shrubs are native to tropical climates, but are now grown around the world. Hibiscus is renowned for its beauty as well as its medicinal uses, and gardeners cultivate the plant for its showy flowers.
General Use
Hibiscus is used for a variety of ailments partly because there are so many species. Roselle lowers fevers and high blood pressure, increases urination, relieves coughs, and has been found to have antibacterial properties. All parts of the plant are used, from the seeds to the roots. Common hibiscus is used mainly for respiratory problems, but is also widely used for skin disorders or to treat fevers. Rose of Sharon is used externally as an emollient, but is also taken internally for gastrointestinal disorders.
Fever
As a natural febrifuge, roselle contains citric acid, which is a natural coolant. In Pakistan and Nepal, it is the flowers that are used as a treatment for fever. Common hibiscus has been found to be particularly useful for children's fevers.
Respiratory Disorders
Common hibiscus is used to treat coughs by placing extracts from the plant in the patient's bath or in water used for steam inhalations. Hibiscus is often combined with other herbs to make a cough syrup. Hibiscus is used widely in Cuba, where the tropical climate contributes to respiratory illnesses, and where hibiscus is readily found.
Hypertensive Conditions
Roselle and rose of Sharon contain hypotensive compounds that lower the blood pressure. Roselle's ability to lower blood pressure may be due to its diuretic and laxative effects. The plant contains ascorbic and glycolic acids, which increase urination.
Skin Conditions
Hibiscus is a natural emollient, used for softening or healing the skin. The leaves and flowers of the roselle are used all around the world for their emollient qualities. When the leaves are heated, they can be placed on cracked feet or on boils and ulcers to promote healing. Since the herb is a cooling herb, when applied externally it cools the surface of the skin by increasing blood flow to the epidermis and dilating the pores of the skin. A lotion made from a decoction of hibiscus leaves can be used to soothe hemorrhoids, sunburn, open sores, and wounds.
Other Conditions
Hibiscus has been credited with a wide range of healing properties. In Colombia, the plant is used to treat hair loss and scurvy; in Samoa, it is commonly given to women who are suffering from menstrual cramps or who are in childbirth, as the leaves ease labor pains. In the Cook Islands and the Philippines, the flowers are used to induce abortions. In a 1962 study, hibiscus was confirmed to be hypotensive, as well as antispasmodic, anthelminthic, and antibacterial. In subsequent studies, the plant was found to effectively work against such diseases as ascariasis and tuberculosis. Studies in France, Malaysia, and Egypt have found that the plant has anticarcinogenic effects.
Preparations
A decoction of hibuscus can be made by pouring 1 cup of boiling water over 2 tsp of dried blossoms or 1 tsp of crumbled blossom. Steep for 10 minutes. In addition, many commercial herbal teas contain hibiscus.
Precautions
Since there are over 250 species of hibiscus, it is essential to identify the species of the herb before taking it. Since some species of hibiscus are used as abortifacients, the plant should not be used by women who are pregnant or nursing.
Side Effects
Some drinks made from roselle can have alcoholic effects. The plant can also be mildly hallucinogenic.
Interactions
There are no known interactions between hibiscus and standard pharmaceutical preparations. Because it is a tart plant, however, it may not mix harmoniously with other tannic herbs. Mint leaves or rose hips are good to blend with hibiscus.
Resources
Books
Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. London: Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1996.
Keys, John D. Chinese Herbs. New York: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1976.
[Article by: Katherine Y. Kim]
| Annuals Dictionary: Hibiscus |
Hy-bis'kus. An important genus of over 250 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, with many popular garden annuals.
Description
Leaves alternate, with veins arranged finger-fashion, sometimes lobed or parted. Flowers usually large, generally bell-shaped, with 5 petals and sepals, or sometimes the sepals united to form a 5-toothed calyx. Stamens united in a tubular structure that surrounds the style. Often a series of bracts beneath the calyx.
How to Grow
Start seeds indoors at 70-75° F (21-24° C) 8-10 weeks before last frost. After danger of frost is past, set in the garden in average to moist but not soggy soil. The species below prefer warm weather.
Hibiscus Acetosella
To 5 ft. (1.5 m) high. Leaves variable, lobed or unlobed, green and red or all red. Flowers solitary, yellow or purple-red, 2 in. (6 cm) wide, in angle between leaf and stem. E. Africa. Blooms 10 months after germination. Cultivar 'Red Shield' has red leaves. Grown for hedges, bedding, or as a pot plant. Half-hardy annual.
Hibiscus Moscheutos
Rose Mallow
;
Swamp Mallow
;
Sea Hollyhock
. 3-8 ft. (0.9-2.4 m) high. Flowers 4-7 in. (10.0-17.5 cm) wide, creamy white or pink, with no eye; wilting within an hour when picked. Brackish marshes, Mass. to Va.; rarely, in fresh marshes westward to Ill. Many cultivars, including new dwarf forms with huge flowers. Nick seeds before sowing and place in soil that is rich in organic matter. Perennial grown as a half-hardy annual.
Hibiscus Trionum
Flower-of-an-Hour
. 1-4 ft. (45-120 cm) high. Flowers solitary, pale yellow or yellowish white, with a dark eye, 1-1 in. (2.5-4 cm) wide, in angle between leaf and stem. Old World tropics, naturalized elsewhere. Sometimes self-sows. Half-hardy annual.
| Gardener's Dictionary: Hibiscus |
| Wikipedia: Hibiscus |
| Hibiscus | |
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| A red hibiscus flower in Yercaud, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Subfamily: | Malvoideae |
| Tribe: | Hibisceae[1] |
| Genus: | Hibiscus L. |
| Species | |
Hibiscus (pronounced /hɨˈbɪskəs/[2] or /haɪˈbɪskəs/[3]) is a genus of plants with member species often noted for their showy flowers and commonly known as hibiscus or less widely as rosemallow or flor de Jamaica. This large genus includes about 200–220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae native to warm, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus also includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees.
Contents |
The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, orange, purple or yellow, and from 4-18 cm broad.The color of the Hibiscus grows darker as it ages. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.
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Many species are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs. Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many herbal teas.
One species of Hibiscus, known as Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), is extensively used in paper making. Another, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable and to make herbal teas and jams (especially in the Caribbean).
In Mexico, the drink is known as agua de Flor de Jamaica and is quite popular for its color, tanginess and mild flavor; once sugar is added, it tastes somewhat like cranberry juice. Dieters or persons with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic. It is made by boiling the dehydrated flowers in water; once it is boiled, it is allowed to cool and drunk with ice.[4] The flowers are also used to add flavor to the end of year punch, along with many other plants as cinnamon, guava and sugar cane.
In Egypt and Sudan, roselle petals are used to make a tea named after the plant karkade.
Certain species of hibiscus are also beginning to be used more widely as a natural source of food colouring (E163[5]), and replacement of Red #3 / E127[6].
Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, the Nutmeg moth, and the Turnip Moth.
The Hibiscus is used as an offering to Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is considered to have a number of medical uses in Chinese herbology.[7]
The bark of the hibiscus contains strong fibers. They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea in order to let the organic material rot away. In Polynesia these fibers (fau, pūrau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs.
Hibiscus, especially white hibiscus, is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots make various concoctions believed to cure various ailments.
A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 7.2 point in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 point drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage. Study participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 or above), had a greater response to hibiscus tea, their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2 points. This data supports the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a role in controlling blood pressure, although more research is required[8].
The natives of southern India use the Red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for hair care purposes. The red flower and leaves, extracts of which can be applied on hair to tackle hair-fall, dandruff on the scalp and also for colouring the hair. It is used to make hair-protective oils. A simple application involves soaking the leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste, and used as a natural shampoo. its petals are used to cure fever while its roots are used to cure cough.
In the Philippines, the gumamela (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 stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles.
Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico.
The red hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Tahitian women. A single flower is tucked behind the ear. Which ear is used indicates the wearer's availability for marriage.
Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia
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.
About 200-220 species are known, including:
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_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_9081.jpg) Hibiscus lobatus in Hyderabad, India. |
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_9080.jpg) Hibiscus lobatus in Hyderabad, India. |
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_9075.jpg) Hibiscus lobatus in Hyderabad, India. |
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W2_IMG_9075.jpg) Hibiscus lobatus in Hyderabad, India. |
 Hibiscus panduriformis in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India. |
 Hibiscus panduriformis in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India. |
 Hibiscus panduriformis in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India. |
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 Hibiscus ovalifolius in Hyderabad, India. |
 Hibiscus ovalifolius in Hyderabad, India. |
 Hibiscus ovalifolius in Hyderabad, India. |
 Hibiscus, Kolkata, India. |
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
| Translations: Hibiscus |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - hibiscus, hawaiblomst
Nederlands (Dutch)
hibiscus, Chinese roos
Français (French)
n. - hibiscus
Deutsch (German)
n. - (Bot.) Hibiskus
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (φυτολ.) ιβίσκος
Português (Portuguese)
n. - hibisco (m) (Bot.)
Español (Spanish)
n. - hibisco
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - hibiskus
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
芙蓉属的植物, 木槿, 扶桑花
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 芙蓉屬的植物, 木槿, 扶桑花
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 하이비스커스 (당아욱속의 식물)
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) الخبازي أو الخبيزة أو الخبيز نبات
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - היביסקוס (שיח)
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Copyrights:
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Copyright © 2005 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Annuals Dictionary. Taylor's Guide for Annuals, by Norman Taylor, revised and edited by Gordon P. DeWolf, Jr. Copyright © 1986 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hibiscus". Read more |
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| Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more |
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