Common name: China Rose, Chinese hibiscus • Hindi: Gurhal गुढ़ल • Manipuri: জুবা কুসুম Juba kusum athonba • Malayalam: Chemparati • Tamil: செம்பருத்தி cembarutti • Marathi: Jaswand जासवंद • Konkani: Dosni Phool दोस्णि फुल
Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)
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.
| Photographed in Lodhi Garden,
Delhi |
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