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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

  • Botanical Name : Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

  • Hibiscus is actually derived from an ancient Greek word ebiskos which was used by Dioscorides for the marsh mallow.

  • Common Name : China Rose, Jasud, Shoe-Flower
  • Plant Family : Malvaceae
  • Plant Form : Shrub
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 17, 22, 26-30
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Sarita Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Infocity, Aranya Van

About Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Plant :

  • Habit : An ornamental evergreen shrub having branched tap root system.
  • Stem : Woody and solid but herbaceous at upper portion,aerial, Erect, branched, cylindrical, solid and glabrous.
  • Leaves : Ramal and cauline, stipulate, petiolate, simple, alternate, ovate, serrate, acute, glabrous, unicostate reticulate venation.
  • Inflorescence : Solitary axillary.
  • Flowers :
    • Ebracteate, pedicellate, complete, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, pentamerous, hypogynous, cyclic, large, red or variously coloured.
    • Epicalyx 5 or more, free, green.
    • Calyx made up of sepls 5, gamosepalous, campanulate, valvate, green.
    • Corolla made up of 5 petals, polypetalous but fused at the base, adnate, shape obovate and margin sinuous, twisted and red.
    • Androecium made up of many stamens, monadelphous, epipetalous, staminal tube fused with corolla and red in colour, anthers are monothecous, reniform, attached transversely to the filament, extrorse and red coloured.
    • Gynoecium composed of pentacarpellary, syncarpous, superior pentalocular, many ovules in each locule, axile placentation, styles 5, united below but free at their tips, stigmas 5, capitate, and coloured.
  • Fruit : 5-valved, loculicidal capsule
  • Seeds : Small, endospermic.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : July-December
  • Significance :
    • Cultivated in gardens everywhere.
    • The buds are cooling and remove seminal weakness.
    • The petals are used to blacken shoes and hence the name is given.
    • The paste of petals is also applied on the hair for blackening.