The hibiscus flower

About

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical 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. Other names include hardy hibiscus, rose of sharon, and tropical hibiscus.

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Species

Few species of hibiscus

  • Hawaiian Flower

  • Hibiscus hirtus

  • Hibiscus hispidissimus

  • Hibiscus Lobatus

Features

The leaves are alternate, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, colour from white to pink, red, orange, peach, yellow or purple,and from 4–18 cm broad.

Flower colour in certain species, such as H. mutabilis and H. tiliaceus, changes with age. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds 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.

Bali culture

Symbolism and culture

Countries with Hibiscus as a national symbol

The hibiscus is a national symbol of Haiti,and the national flower of nations including the Solomon Islands and Niue. Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.Hibiscus brackenridgei is the state flower of Hawaii.

Countries with Hibiscus as a cultural symbol

  1. India
  2. Philippines
  3. Hawaii
  4. Nigeria

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