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Friday, September 26, 2008

Are you married or single??

The hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Hawaiian women. A single flower is tucked behind the ear. Which ear is used indicates the wearer's availability for marriage.
Many species are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs. Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many herbal teas.
In Mexico, the drink is known as Jamaican water or agua de Jamaica and is quite popular for its color, tanginess and mild flavor; once sugar is added, it tastes somewhat like cranberry juice. Dieters or persons with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic. It is made by boiling the dehydrated flowers in water; once it is boiled, it is allowed to cool and drunk with ice.
In Egypt and Sudan, roselle petals are used to make a tea named after the plant, karkade.
Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, the Nutmeg moth, and the Turnip Moth.
The Hibiscus is used as an offering to Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship. The Gumamela or Hibiscus rosa sinensis linn flower has antifungal, emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant effect.
The bark of the hibiscus contains strong fibers. They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea in order to let the organic material rot away. In Polynesia these fibers (fau, pūrau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs.
Hibiscus, especially white hibiscus, is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots make various concoctions believed to cure various ailments.
The natives of southern India uses the Red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for hair care purposes. The red flower and leaves, extracts of which can be applied on hair to tackle hair-fall and dandruff on the scalp. It is used to make hair protective oils. A simple application involves soaking the leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste, and used as a natural shampoo.
Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico.
One species of Hibiscus, known as Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), is extensively used in paper making. Another, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable and to make herbal teas and jams (especially in the Caribbean).

4 comments:

Mary said...

You must be posting twice a day...I keep getting behind! These flowers are gorgeous! I've never seen so many different colors and varities of hibiscus. I would not have dreamed they could be used for so many things and in so many different countries. I guess here we just smell them and enjoy how they look :-) I was trying to pick a favorite...I like the top 3 in particular.

SAPhotographs said...

Thanks Mary. They are really beautiful. A very interesting flower. I am posting 2 a day to try to catch up.

visuallens said...

I love hibiscus flower and it is my garden plant.The red hibiscus flower is the national flower of Malaysia. I would like to make a link to your post. Thanks

SAPhotographs said...

Thanks for visiting and commenting Visuallens. :)

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My name is Joan and I have lived and worked in the African bush for more than 20 years so I am definitely not a "city girl". My hobbies and interest are anything to do with the outdoors especially photography. At the end of last year I was introduced to macro photography and have discovered a whole new world. I have traveled a lot and love chatting to people, so I correspond with people all over the world. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have: macromail2 at vodamail dot co dot za. Thanks for visiting my blog. :)
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