According to old almanacs, today’s plant is the Longstalked hibiscus. Here are 10 facts about hibiscus:
It’s a flowering plant which is the largest genus (434 species) in the mallow family. The mallow family includes cacao, cola, Cotton, okra, durian, hollyhock, mallow and the lime or linden tree.
They are often grown in gardens for their beautiful, colourful flowers which attract Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds. You’ll need a sunny garden, though. The flowers need about 6 hours of sun a day in order to blossom.
Hibiscus is a national symbol of several countries: Haiti, the Solomon Islands, Niue, South Korea and Malaysia. Hibiscus brackenridgei is the state flower of Hawaii. A stylised image of the hibiscus flower was used as a logo of Air Polynésie.
In the Hindu religion, Hibiscus is associated with the goddess Kali and often appears in artwork featuring her. The hibiscus is used as an offering to Kali and the god Ganesha.
The plants are edible. The flowers have a lemony taste and are rich in Vitamin C. Common uses include chutneys, soups, salads, curries, jams and jellies. Dried hibiscus is a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be made into tea which tastes a bit like Cranberries and it has been suggested that hibiscus tea is good for lowering blood pressure.
In the Philippines, children use the plant to make bubbles. The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out, then they stick hollow stalks into the mixture to create bubbles.
Other parts of the plant, such as the bark, are used in Paper making and also, in Polynesia, for making rope, and Canoe floats.
A hibiscus flower can be used to determine the pH of a liquid. The flower turns dark Pink or Magenta in an acidic solution and Green in an alkaline one.
In India and Sri Lanka, it’s known as a Shoe flower, because rubbing the blooms on leather brings back its natural shine.
The hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Pacific island women. It’s an easy way to tell if a woman is spoken for or not. If the flower is worn behind the left ear, she’s married or in a relationship, but if worn on the right, it means she’s single.
Christmas is coming!
A Very Variant Christmas
Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.
The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.
Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.
Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
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