Common name: China Rose, Chinese hibiscus • Hindi: Gurhal गुढ़ल • Manipuri: জুবা কুসুম Juba kusum athonba •
Kannada: ದಾಸವಾಳ DasavaLa • Malayalam: Chemparati • Tamil: செம்பருத்தி cembarutti •Marathi: Jaswand जासवंद • Konkani: Dosni Phool दोस्णि फुल
Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)
Geographical distribution
The plant is mostly cultivated
throughout India as an ornamental in houses and gardens.
Introduction: Nobody knows whether the hibiscus really is a
native of China as its latin name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, (rosa-sinensis =
Chinese Rose) suggests or not. Many believe, it comes from India. This large
shrub or small tree grows to 15 feet high. The toothed leaves are arranged
alternately and vary a lot, but tend to be large, dark green, and shiny. This
plant has a coarse texture and may be upright or broad and spreading. It is
often many-stemmed. Flowers are glorious and huge at their best -- up to
6" in diameter -- and occur in many colors. Most are flared and have a
bell shape and may be single or double, smooth or scalloped. They have a long
central tube with stamens and pistils at the tip.
Chemical composition
The flowers contain nitrogen, fat,
calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B and C. It also contains some
glycosides.
Therapeutic uses
The flowers and leaves are used against
a variety of ailments such as alepacia, burning sensation in the body,
diabetes, menstrual disorder and piles. The flowers are considered demulcent,
emollient, refrigerant, aphrodisiac and emmenagogue. Leaves are emollient and
aperients.
Folk medicinal uses
Decoction of flowers is given in
bronchial catarrh. Fresh root juice is given for gonorrhoea and powder root for
menorrhagia.
Flowers : February-October
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