I Speak For The Trees

Hibiscus growing in Guallabamba, Pichincha Province.  Hibiscus is a fairly large genus, with over 200 members not including the hybrids, which is native to the tropics and subtropics worldwide.  It is primarily cultivated for its showy and colourful flowers, although the glossy deep green, broadly lanceolate foliage (often serrated or dagged) is also quite attractive.  Hibiscus is generally a woody shrub, but under the right conditions can form small trees; it is often used as a sidewalk tree in Ecuador, particularly close to parks.  Most species prefer tropical conditions, but there are some that are cold-hardy, like Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon).  Propagation is through seed or cuttings, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is easily hybridized to produce larger or differently-coloured flowers, ranging from fire-engine red through all variations of yellow and orange, and even to blue and purple, as well as variegations of these colours.  The flowers may be either “single”, with five to six petals, or “double” with multiple levels of petals around the distinctive stamen.

Apart from being highly ornamental, Hibiscus is the source of the fibre Kenaf, which is used in papermaking and as a bast-type fibre in the manufacture of rope and cloth.  The Malvaceae family, to which the Hibiscus belongs, also contains cotton, cocoa, and the mallows.

Medicinally, preparations of the flower can be used as an antifungal, eminagogue, and to produce a cooling effect.  Additionally, the flower and leaves of red hibiscus can also be used cosmetically, as a cure for dandruff.  Dried hibiscus flowers are often found in herbal teas, where they give a characteristic ruby colour to the brew; dried flowers can also be eaten.