Hibiscus, or Chinese rose

This is one of the most effective indoor plants. It is quite easy to understand why hibiscus is so popular in many countries of the world. We have it known for a long time under the name "Chinese rosan".In the recent past, this cute and unpretentious tree was the decoration of any apartment. It attracts with its abundant long flowering, terry or simple flowers - pink, red and crimson gramophones from five intergrown petals. In the diameter, the flowers of some species can reach 16 cm. The exotic species is attached to the hibiscus flowers by numerous threads of golden stamens, fused into a long tube. Today, numerous hybrids of hibiscus are also popular - low plants, in which the shape of the flowers simultaneously resembles a lily and a rose, and the petals come in a variety of shades - purple, pink, orange, salmon, white, yellow, scarlet, sometimes bicolour, may be streaked or decorated"Eye" of contrasting color, some have a border on the edge.

In Muslim Malaysia, a hibiscus flower is worshiped, believing that its five petals symbolize the five commandments of Islam.

In Southeast Asia, the flowers of hibiscus are called "the flower of love," "the flower of passion," and "the flower of beautiful women."They are a symbol of the island of Haiti, and in India they are woven into wedding wreaths. In Hawaii, hibiscus is also considered a national flower, women there adorn his hair with roses and make necklaces out of seeds. In Brazil, hibiscus grows separately, it is called "princess earrings".His petals are cut, and the flower itself is gracefully swaying on a long pedicel, in fact reminding an exquisite jewelery.

With a close relative of the Chinese rose, many of us are familiar - this is a Sudanese rose. Its flowers are called karkade and make from them a delicious drink - both refreshing and healing. The pleasant taste and useful properties of carcade tea were known in ancient Egypt, during the times of the pharaohs. We revered this drink in ancient Greece, and in the Roman Empire. Hence the curative flowers came to other countries of Europe, and widely received thanks to the emperor Charles the Great. In his numerous military campaigns he got acquainted with various recipes of medicinal herbs. When one of the scientists of the early Middle Ages asked Charles the Great what a karkade is, the ruler replied: "A friend of the healer and praise to the cook."

In the botanical gardens of Europe, the Chinese rose conquered visitors with its lush flowering at the beginning of the XVIII century.

In places of its original growth, hibiscuses serve not only for decorative purposes. In South-East Asia, cultivated food and technical types of Sudanese roses. Technical varieties are grown for the production of high-quality fiber, and food grade products go to tea kar-kade. Young leaves and shoots are eaten as vegetables - for example, in hibiscus, called okra. Seeds, leaves, fruits, roots of different species are used in medicine. From flowers receive black dye for hair and purple - for the food industry. Sudan's rose is an effective natural dye, so it is used in everyday life( you can paint fabrics, Easter eggs, hair), and in cooking. A very small amount of broth can be given a pleasant pink color to various dishes - sauerkraut, horseradish seasoning, compotes, jellies, etc. Salads are prepared from fresh leaves and young shoots, and also used for preparing meat dishes. Seeds of hibiscus are roasted and added to soups.

From the point of view of the Chinese aesthetics of feng shui, hibiscus must necessarily be kept in a dwelling. He has a positive energy, makes the house attractive to good spirits. This flower stimulates mental and physical activity, encourages the search for a new in the ordinary, smooths the tensions between family members, in particular between son-in-law and mother-in-law. Specialists in astromedicine believe that the Chinese rose stimulates the work of the heart, and its presence in the apartment improves the condition of people with cardiovascular diseases.

Experienced lovers of indoor plants have long noticed that near the hibiscus weak and sick plants begin to feel better.