Hibiscus

Hibiscus
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Hibiscus
Species
about 50, including: Hibiscus cannabinus - Kenaf Hibiscus militaris - Halberd-leaved rose mallow Hibiscus moscheutos - Common rose mallow Hibiscus rosasinensis - Chinese hibiscus Hibiscus syriacus - Hibiscus or "Rose of Sharon"
Ref: ITIS 21611

Hibiscus or rosemallow is a large genus of flowering plants, many of which are grown for their showy flowers, with over 200 species.

Many species are used as flowering landscape shrubs. In temperate zones, probably the most commonly-used species for this purpose is the Hibiscus syriacus known in some areas as "Rose of Sharon" or the "Rose of althea" (not to be confused with the unrelated Hypericum calycinum, also called the "Rose of Sharon").

Economic Uses

One species of Hibiscus, known as Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus, is extensively used in paper making.

Medicinal Uses

Extracts of hibiscus species have been claimed to have several health benefits, including prevention of:

• Constipation
• Bladder infections
• Nausea

The studies that yielded these results are debated. The plant is commonly used as a herbal tea, mostly in a blend with rosehip.

Other Information

Hibiscus syriacus (Mugunghwa or "Rose of Sharon") is the national flower of South Korea, while Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Bunga Raya or "Chinese hibiscus") is the national flower of Malaysia.

The City of Hibiscus is an alias for the city of Chengdu in China.