Hibiscus - The Queen of The Tropical



                       

The common hibiscus has come a long way since the days when it was used as a traditional cure for various ailments. Today, hibiscus flower juice has been approved for sale in the United States.

The transformation of the national flower does not end there. As time went by corss-breeding of hibiscus has become a norm. A result of which are hybrids even more beautiful and exotic in colour, shape and size.

All hybrids have something in common: they are big flowers with an out thrust slender stamen tube and pistil tip. The different species of hibiscus come in an assortment of colours - pink, white, red, yellow, mauve or a combination of two or more colours except green.

It is estimated that there are more than one thousand horticultural varieties which are more varied than the roses of the world. Their names and pictures could certainly fill an encyclopedia.

There are more than 150 accepted species of hisbicus native to every continent except Europe.

The national flower of Malaysia is called Woro-Wari in Javanese, Chaba in Thai and Fulode Sapata in Portuguese.

During the celebration of Malaysia's "Coming of Age," the five petals of hibiscus were interpreted to represent the five Rukun (principal) of the nation.

The hibiscus has also been chosen as the logo for the Malaysian Tourism Board and is even featured on Malaysian coins.

It is interesting to note that the juice of the petals were used to clean and shine black shoes in Ceylon. Hence the Protuguese named the hibiscus shoe flower or shoe black flower.

It is believed that long ago, Chinese and Indian women used the juice of the petals to blacken their eyebrows.

Today, Malaysians use the flowers as dyes for colouring food such as cakes, fruits, jellies and cooked vegetables.

The bark of the hibiscus plant has strong fibre. But there are no recorded usage of the fibre.

In the olden days too, the Malays used to extract the essence of the roots by boiling them to cure fever, sore eyes, glandular trouble and other internal ailments.

In Kelantan, a decoction from the roots of white flowered plants were used as an antidote for poisons. To treat skin disease s, fever and other ailments, a preparation from the leaves and roots was also used.

However, superstitious people have other uses for the flowers and roots. They put the flowers into the water when epidemics were being exorcised. The superstitious also spat chewed roots over an elephant in a form of exorcism for disease.

A small hibiscus tree common to Peninsular Malaysia is the Pacific Rose-wood. This tree is sacred and is planted around temples throughout much of the Pacific.

One very interesting species of hibiscus from China that is cultivated in Malaysia is the "chameleon." The Changeable Rose Mallow, also known as "Rose of Sharon" changes colour as the temperature increases.

The double-layered large flower opens white in the morning and gradually changes to pink in the afternoon. In the evening when it wilts, it turns reddish pink.


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