medicinal herbs
Swamp Hibiscus
Hibiscus diversifolius
Herb: Swamp Hibiscus
Latin name: Hibiscus diversifolius
Family: Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Medicinal use of Swamp Hibiscus:
Abortifacient?.Description of the plant:
Plant:
DeciduousShrub
Height:
100 cm(3 1/4 foot)
Habitat of the herb:
Mainly by the coast, especially near rainforests, occasionally on disturbed ground in Australia in New South Wales and Queensland.Edible parts of Swamp Hibiscus:
Young leaf buds - they are good either raw or cooked. The young leaves can also be eaten, they are mild and quite mucilaginous, making a pleasant addition to the salad bowl. Flowers - raw or cooked with other foods. They have a very mild flavour and are very mucilaginous. They make a very acceptable and beautiful addition to the salad bowl. Root - it is edible but very fibrousy. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour.Propagation of the herb:
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed germinates inside 2 weeks and should be potted up into individual pots as soon as it is large enough to handle. Grow the plants on fast in a fairly rich compost and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. These will be difficult to overwinter unless kept in heated environment.Cultivation of Swamp Hibiscus:
Mainly by the coast, especially near rainforests, occasionally on disturbed ground in Australia in New South Wales and Queensland.Known hazards of Hibiscus diversifolius:
Some caution should be observed when using this plant because there is a report that it might be used to procure abortions. We have no further details.Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.