Fringed Hibiscus

Overview

Hibiscus schizopetalus or fringed hibiscus is native to tropical east Africa, and widely cultivated, globally distributed to Asia (China, India, Pakistan, Taiwan), Africa (Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania), North America, and South America. The specific epithet schizopetalus comes from schizo meaning "split" and petalus meaning "petal", in reference to the recurved and divided petals of each flower. 

Vernacular Names

Juba kusum (Manipuri-India).

Agroecology

Hibiscus is a versatile and hardy plant that grows well in a variety of conditions, including temperate, tropical, and subtropical climates. Best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Plants appreciate abundant watering and fertilizing when young. Plants are intolerant of drought. 

Morphology

• Roots - taproot system.
• Stems - woody, branches densely or sparsely pubescent or tomentose with simple, scarbid or stellate hairs or glabrous. 
• Leaves - ovate, acuminate, serrate, stipules lanceolate, deciduous.
• Flowers -  inflorescence solitary axillary, bisexual, epicalyx is absent, calyx of 5 petals recurved and much divided or laciniate and flowers pendulous,staminal tube very long, ovary superior, 5-celled, style long, passes through the hollow staminal tube and divides into 5 branches with capitate stigmas.
• Fruits - capsules, about 3.5-4 cm across, globose-cylindrical, apex apiculate, acute or acuminate, dehiscing loculicidally, glabrous or hairy.
• Seeds - many, reniform or subglobose, smooth, glabrous or hairy, about 2-3 mm across, dark brown.

Cultivation

Propagated by seed (generative propagation), and by stem cutting (vegetative propagation).

Chemical Constituents

Anthocyanins, alkaloids, triterpene esters, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and sterols.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• It has pharmacological properties of antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic activities.
• Hibiscus is used as an herbal remedy for various conditions that include fever, high blood pressure, bacterial infections, poor circulation, and heartburn.