Steinmetz:Hibiscus

Hibiscus esculentus

Also known as (or relevant to) Hibiscus esculentus Abelmoschus esculentus Family Malvaceae English Names Ladies Fingers plant Natural Habitat tropical countries grown in China cultivated in Europe and U. S. A. Part(s) Used Fructus Hibisci esculenti

Constituent(s) mucilage (consisting of pectin and starch) Action unripe seed: demulcent used as a substitute for coffee. The young unripe fruit is eaten as a vegetable

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Also known as (or relevant to) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Family Malvaceae English Names China-Rose Shoeflower plant Natural Habitat India Indonesia China Part(s) Used Flores Hihisci Rosa-sinensis Radix Hibisci, Rosa-sinensis

Action flower: emmenagogue abortive emollient demulcent refrigerant febrifuge colouring agent; root: pectoral expectorant In the East Indies the flowers are used for blacking shoes and in China for dyeing hair and whiskers black

Hibiscus sabdariffa

Also known as (or relevant to) Hibiscus sabdariffa Family Malvaceae English Names Red Sorrel Natal Sorrel Jamaica Sorrel Rozelle Hemp plant Nubia tea Natural Habitat Sudan Egypt Abyssinia India Ceylon Indonesia West Indies tropical America Part(s) Used Flores Hibisci sabdariffae (the calyces only)

Constituent(s) Hibiscus-acid aromatic acids colouring matter sugar mucilage tannin salts Action astringent antiscorbutic emollient demulcent cholagogue cooling aromatic tonic; used as a substitute for tea The fruit is edible. The seed is said to be aphrodisiac. The stalks of the plant are used to make Rozelle hemp