Hibiscus

The hibiscus ( kembang sepatu in Indonesian) seems to be quite popular plants especially in warm temperature land. It is so easy to be recognized sort of it's large and showy flowers, with five or more petals. Ranging from whie to pink, red, purple and yellow, in about 4-15 cm broad.

The Hibiscus have even been some kind of national symbols and having special value in some countries. Some of them are :

• rosa-sinensis (Bunga Raya or "Chinese hibiscus") is the national flower of Malaysia.
• 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 ma‘o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is the state flower of Hawaii.
• The Hibiscus syriacus (Mugunghwa or "Rose of Sharon") is the national flower of South Korea.
• The Native Hibiscus is a national emblem of the Stolen Generation of indigenous peoples in Australia. Its colour denotes compassion and spiritual healing.
  

In temperate regions, probably the most widely grown ornamental species is Hibiscus syriacus. As in the communal garden, Hibiscus, is also known in some areas is the "Rose of Althea", or "Rose of Sharon" (but not to be confused with the unrelated Hypericum calycinum, also called "Rose of Sharon" ).

While in tropical and subtropical areas, the Chinese Hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) is most popular Hibiscus, caused by its with its many showy hybrids.

picture taken from : starbulletin