Hibiscus
It is one big happy plant family, but with a great variation of flora. One plant provides large colorful flowers. Another gives us a traditional Southern vegetable. And lastly, one makes a common fabric. This family is the Mallow family (Malvaceae) and it contains a diverse group of plants. You may have seen mallows growing in gardens, particularly in swampy areas. The large white or pink flowers are used in many a Southern landscape. The popular confectionary treat used in s’mores and other desserts, originated with the sap of the roots of the marsh mallow hence the name. If you see a mallow flower, you will not find it difficult to believe the hollyhocks are part of this family. But beyond the mallow which gives this plant family, its name, there are horticultural specimens that you might not connect to a marshmallow, whether sweet or growing in a swamp.
One of the mallow cousins is the state flower of Hawaii – the Hibiscus. Hibiscus is a large Genus of 750 species grown mostly for its large flowers with a variety of color choices. Most are found in the tropical regions of Eurasia and the Americas. You may be familiar with a shrub known as the Rose of Sharon. That is a type of Hibiscus that originated in Syria and now is a very common garden shrub in North America. They bloom profusely nearly all summer long and are known to set out little seedlings under their branches. The tropical Hibiscus seen in places like Hawaii are mainly grown as ornamentals in containers. They are not cold tolerant. In our area they must be brought inside when the temperatures get into the 30’s. There are also hardy hibiscus that can stay in a garden all year long. I will admit that although I could grow them up north, I do not have luck with them here.
Hibiscus is not often used as a food product in North America, but in other parts of the world, Hibiscus flower tea is enjoyed. It has a tart taste and is high in vitamin C. It has been credited with lowering high blood pressure. Parts of the dried hibiscus flowers are eaten as a treat in Mexico and often used to garnish desserts.
Women in the South Pacific often wear a Hibiscus flower behind their ear. If the flower is behind the right ear, it means she is unmarried and available. A flower behind the left ear signifies that she is taken and unavailable. A fresh flower must be procured daily because like daylilies, the flowers only last one day. For this reason, Hibiscus do not make a good cut flower. Better to enjoy them on the plant or shrub.
Another mallow cousin is okra, a vegetable that people seem to either love or hate. The plant has a pale yellow flower and then the tubular pods appear as the flowers die. It is native to Africa and was probably brought to the Americas by the slave trade ships. Okra is one of the most heat and drought tolerant vegetables that can be grown. When you cut the pods open there is a sticky “slime” that might turn some people off. Cut up and cooked in tomatoes or deep fried, the slime is not noticeable. Okra is used as a thickener in soup, stews, and gumbos. Pickled okra is a great low calorie cocktail treat. I happen to be one of those people who really likes okra and I look forward to seeing it at local farm stands.
The last “cousin” to be discussed is one that has a long and often turbulent history in the American South. That plant is cotton. Entire books have been written about cotton and its impact on our society – good and bad. Cotton was the mainstay crop of the South and many people became rich from growing cotton. Unfortunately, this wealth was built upon the backbreaking labor of enslaved persons which has cast a bad aura over cotton. Of course, it is not the plant that is to blame, but human greed.
The botanical name for cotton is Gossypium which derives from an Arabic word for a soft substance. It is the most common natural fiber used by humans today and is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Although the plant is a perennial, it is often grown as an annual. It is planted after the danger of a frost has passed in the spring and harvested in late autumn. The cotton flower is usually a pale yellow and is quite attractive. When the seeds are produced, they are contained in a boll which is surrounded by white fibers. It is the fibers that are used for fabric making.
Three different plants with three totally different purposes. All of these have the same mallow-like flower that is quite stunning even though we never think of using a cotton or okra blossom in a vase. And I should also mention that cocoa is also a family of the mallow family. All this and chocolate too!
