Jaswand – जासवंद
It is shrub with beautiful showy flowers.
The stem is cylindrical, branched and glabrous. The older stem
is woody and solid while the younger stem is herbaceous.
The leaves are alternate with stipules at the base, dark green in
color, ovate with acute apex and toothed margin.
The flowers are borne in solitary in the axils of the leaves. Each
flower has epicalyx of five or more free green appendages
followed by the calyx which is fused to form a tube. The petals
are five in number, huge, showy, free from each other and
usually bright red in color. There is a central staminal tube
which bears the orange anthers below the tip and five stigmas at
the tip.
The fruit is a five-valved, dehiscent capsule.
BOTANICAL NAME
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L
FAMILY
Malvaceae
FLOWERING
Throughout the year
FRUITING
Throughout the year
PROPAGATION
It can be propagated by seeds and vegetative cuttings
PLANT PART USED
Whole Plant
COMMON NAMES:
China Rose, Chinese hibiscus, Shoe-flower;
Hindi: Gurhal;
Marathi: Jaswand;
Kannada: Dasavala, Daasaala;
Konkani: Dosni Phool;
Malayalam: Chemparati Chemparati;
Manipuri: Juba kusum athonba;
Sanskrit: Japaa, Javaa;
Tamil: Cembarutti.
USES
The plant is highly ornamental due to its showy, colorful flowers.
It is grown in various gardens, temples, and many such
locations.
The flower is offered to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali.
The petals are used to blacken shoes, hence the name ‘Show-
flower’.
Paste of leaves and flowers are mixed with sesame oil and
applied to scalp to strengthen hair roots.
It promotes healthy skin and a clear complexion.
Powder of flowers is used to treat bleeding piles.
Petals are boiled in milk and consumed to strengthen cardiac
muscle.
Roots are used for treatment of cough.
It is used to treat hypertension.
It has anti-viral properties.
Dye can be extracted from the plant.
