Record Number
1125
PROSEA Handbook Number
12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2
Taxon
Hibiscus syriacus L.
This article should be read together with the article on the genus: Hibiscus in the Handbook volume indicated above in this database.
This article should be read together with the article on the genus: Hibiscus in the Handbook volume indicated above in this database.
Protologue
Sp. pl. 2: 695 (1753).
Vernacular Names
Syrian hibiscus, rose of Sharon (En). Philippines: gumamelang asul (Tagalog). Thailand: chabaa cheen (central). Vietnam: h[oof]ng c[aaj]n bi[ees]c, m[ooj]c c[aaj]n.
Distribution
Hibiscus syriacus originates in China and Taiwan, but is now cultivated worldwide as an ornamental.
Uses
The dried flowers are used as a diuretic, and against skin complaints. The leaves are applied as a stomachic, hypolipidaemic and tonic and the mucilaginous bark and root are used as a demulcent.
Observations
A smooth, erect shrub, 2—5 m tall; leaves cuneiform-ovate, up to 8 cm long, 3-lobed, lateral ones short, rounded, the terminal one elongated, pointed, margins toothed, nectary absent, glabrous; calyx 1.5-2 cm long, deeply lobed, flowers normally pale bluish-violet, with a dark centre, sometimes variegated, not opening fully, petals obovate, 3—6 cm long; seed reniform, long hairy. In Hibiscus syriacus, many cultivars are distinguished, often with double flowers.
Selected Sources
[786] Perry, L.M., 1980. Medicinal plants of East and Southeast Asia. Attributed properties and uses. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States & London, United Kingdom. 620 pp.
[788] Pételot, A., 1952—1954. Les plantes médicinales du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam [The medicinal plants of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam]. 4 volumes. Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques et Techniques, Saigon, Vietnam.
[810] Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.
[1117] Yun, B.S., Ryoo, I.J., Lee, I.K., Park, K.H., Choung, D.H., Han, K.H. & Yoo, I.D., 1999. Two bioactive pentacyclic triterpene esters from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus. Journal of Natural Products 62(5): 764—766.
[788] Pételot, A., 1952—1954. Les plantes médicinales du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam [The medicinal plants of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam]. 4 volumes. Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques et Techniques, Saigon, Vietnam.
[810] Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.
[1117] Yun, B.S., Ryoo, I.J., Lee, I.K., Park, K.H., Choung, D.H., Han, K.H. & Yoo, I.D., 1999. Two bioactive pentacyclic triterpene esters from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus. Journal of Natural Products 62(5): 764—766.
Author(s)
Undang A. Dasuki
Correct Citation of this Article
Dasuki, U.A., 2001. Hibiscus syriacus L.. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea
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