Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Malvaceae

• Scientific Name

  Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

• Description

  Species Description - Differing from the others kinds of Hibiscus by having the calyx and involucre of the flowers red and fleshy, this Old World , herbaceous species is commonly grown in tropical and warm temperate American gardens, and occasionally runs wild, spontaneous from seed. It is cultivated for these fleshy calices which are dried, and used in making sauces, jellies and refreshing drinks. Red Sorrel and Roselle are other popular names. An account of the genus Hibiscus may be found with our description of Hibiscus bifurcatus. Hibiscus Sabdariffa (ancient name said to be Turkish) is an annual, or biennial, upright, branched, smooth herb, about 1.5 meters high, or lower. The long-stalked leaves are various, continuous-margined, toothed, lobed, or 3-parted to 5-parted, the lobes pointed; the lowest leaves sometimes reach 20 centimeters in diameter; the uppermost usually small and lance-shaped. The flowers are short-stalked in the upper leaf-axils; there are about 10 involucre-bractlets, lance-shaped, hairy below, from 10 to 12 millimeters long; the red calyx is about 2 centimeters long, in flower, but becomes from 3 to 3.5 centimeters long in fruit, its lance-shaped lobes pointed; the yellow or rose-colored petals commonly with a purple base, are 4 or 5 centimeters long. The capsule is ovoid, 2 or 2.5 centimeters long, the seeds minutely stellate-hairy.

• Discussion

  Viña Jamaica Sorrel Mallow Family Hibiscus Sabdariffa Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 696. 1753.