The Tropical Hibiscus aka Shoe Flower

The one plant that you can be sure to find in most Guyanese gardens is the Hibiscus plant with its vivid, tropical flowers decorating the shrubs. The scientific name for tropical Hibiscus is rosa-sinensis which is Latin, literally meaning “rose of China”. The Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus rose mallow, shoe flower and shoeblack plant are all common names for our tropical Hibiscus.

Origins of Hibiscus

Hibiscus grows the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, however, its country of origin is not known. It is believed that it to have originated somewhere in Asia and the Pacific islands.  Rosa sinensis grows in countries like China, Japan, Hawaii, Guyana and the Caribbean.

Interesting Tip

• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was named in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum.
• This particular species of hibiscus plants, rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.

Scientific Classification of Hibiscus

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Clade: Tracheophytes
• Clade: Angiosperms
• Clade: Eudicots
• Clade: Rosids
• Order: Malvales
• Family: Malvaceae
• Genus: Hibiscus
• Species: H. rosa-sinensis

Description of Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a bushy, evergreen tree, sometimes called a small tree with a tap root system. It typically grows about two point five (2.5) to five (5) metres and one point five (1.5) to three (3) metres wide. The cylindrical stem grows straight and is many-branched. These branches hold the smooth, glossy leaves. The leaves are ovate, with an acute tip and serrated margin. Hibiscus flowers are five-petaled and are the most distinctive part of the plant. The flowers are about four to eighteen (4–18) cm broad and ranges in colour from white to pink, red, orange, peach, yellow to purple.

Interesting Tip

• Hibiscus contains both male and female parts on the same flower.
• The flowers from the different Hibiscus cultivars and hybrids are a single flower or double-flowered.

Uses of Hibiscus

• One of the most common uses of Hibiscus plants is decoration; they are found in almost every Guyanese home in the countryside.
• The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Universiti Malaya and Terengganu Government developed a drink made of hibiscus flowers.
• Chinese and Indians used the juice of Hibiscus flowers and petals to dye their hair and eyebrows black.
• In Malaysia, the flowers are used in exorcism for epidemics and diseases.
• Hibiscus juice was used to polish shoes, in Jamaica and it is here we get the name, shoe flower.
• Women in the Pacific islands wear Hibiscus flowers to show their single status.
• In the Hindu religion, hibiscus flowers are used in prayers.
• One of the most popular uses of the Hibiscus plant is for hibiscus tea. This mixture of dried hibiscus leaves,
• flowers, and dark red calyces is sometimes called ‘sour tea’ because of its tart taste. It can be used treat high blood pressure and lower body temperature and cholesterol levels. In addition, hibiscus tea was used to treat bronchitis, constipation, cancer, cold, liver, heart and nerve diseases, and as a diuretic to increase urine production.

Apart from the Victoria Regia Lily, if there was a flower to represent Guyana it would be the Hibiscus flower. The  Hibiscus plant with its vibrant flowers can bring life to any garden or yard they are planted in. Leaves, flowers and stems of this plant have many uses medicinal uses including lowering high blood pressure, treating colds and coldlike symptoms and liver and heart diseases. These are just some of the many health benefits of Hibiscus. It is a useful plant to be kept around, if not for its medicinal value then for its sheer beauty.

Article References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis
• https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_211_2005-01-09.html
• https://www.trop-hibiscus.com/agnlinfo.html
• https://www.healthline.com/health/all-you-need-to-know-hibiscus
• https://www.bustle.com/p/7-reasons-why-hibiscus-oil-is-officially-the-new-coconut-oil-39240