hibiscus

/huy bis"keuhs, hi-/, n., pl. hibiscuses.

1. Also called China rose. a woody plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, of the mallow family, having large, showy flowers: the state flower of Hawaii.

2. any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.

[1700-10; < NL, L < Gk hibískos mallow]

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Any of about 250 species of shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants that make up the genus Hibiscus, in the mallow family, native to warm temperate and tropical regions.

Several are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flowers. The tropical Chinese hibiscus, or China rose (H. rosa-sinensis), has large, somewhat bell-shaped reddish blossoms. The East African hibiscus (H. schizopetalus), a drooping shrub, is often grown in hanging baskets indoors. Other members of the genus include okra, rose of Sharon, and many flowering plants known by the common name mallow.

China rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Sven Samelius

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▪ plant

 any of about 350 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees constituting the genus Hibiscus, in the family Malvaceae, and native to warm temperate and tropical regions. Several are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flowers.

      The tropical Chinese hibiscus, or China rose (H. rosa-sinensis), which may reach a height of 4.5 metres (15 feet), rarely exceeds 2 metres (6.5 feet) in cultivation. It is grown for its large, somewhat bell-shaped blossoms. Cultivated varieties have red, white, yellow, or orange flowers. The East African hibiscus (H. schizopetalus), a drooping shrub with deeply lobed, red petals, is often grown in hanging baskets indoors.

      Other members of the genus Hibiscus include the fibre plants mahoe and kenaf, okra, musk mallow, rose of Sharon, and many flowering plants known by the common name mallow.

 Hibiscus now includes the former genus Abutilon, containing more than 100 species of herbaceous plants and partly woody shrubs native to tropical and warm temperate areas. Several species are used as houseplants and in gardens for their white to deep orange, usually nodding, five-petaled blossoms. H. hybridum, sometimes called Chinese lantern, is planted outdoors in warm regions and grown in greenhouses elsewhere. The trailing abutilon (H. megapotamicum), often grown as a hanging plant, is noted for its nodding, yellowish orange, closed flowers; it has a handsome variegated-leaf variety. H. pictum, a shrub reaching a height of 4.5 metres (15 feet), often called parlor, or flowering, maple, is grown as a houseplant. An important fibre plant in China is H. theophrastii, called China jute; it is a very serious field weed in the United States, where it is called velvetleaf or Indian mallow.

 

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