Hibiscus
Hibiscus
Hibiscus (/hɪˈbɪskəs/; from the Greek word ἱβίσκος, meaning "mallow") is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Member species are renowned for their large, showy flowers and those species are commonly known simply as "hibiscus", or less widely known as rose mallow.
Etymology
The name 'Hibiscus' comes from hibiskos, the word that Greek physician Dioscorides (1st century AD) gave to Althaea officinalis, a common marsh mallow. The specific epithet, rosa-sinensis, translates as "rose of China".
Description
Hibiscus plants are known for their large, colorful flowers. These blossoms can make a decorative addition to a home or garden, but they also have medicinal uses. The flowers and leaves can be made into teas and liquid extracts that can help treat a variety of conditions, including upset stomach, high blood pressure, bacterial infections, and fever.
Medicinal Uses
Hibiscus has been used in folk medicine for a variety of ailments, and these uses have been verified to a great extent by scientific studies. Hibiscus has been shown to lower blood pressure, decrease spasms, decrease inflammation, and it has antimicrobial effects.
Related Terms
- Malvaceae: The family of plants to which the Hibiscus genus belongs.
- Dioscorides: A Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of De Materia Medica—a 5-volume Greek encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances.
- Althaea officinalis: Also known as the marshmallow plant, a species of flowering plant in the mallow family Malvaceae.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hibiscus
- Wikipedia's article - Hibiscus
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