Hibiscus ( or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Member species are often noted for their showy flowers and are commonly known as hibiscus, sorrel, and flor de Jamaica, or less widely known as rosemallow. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ἱβίσκος (hibískos), which was the name Pedanius Dioscorides (ca. 40-90) gave to Althaea officinalis.

Description

The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, orange, purple or yellow, and from 4–18 cm broad. Flower color in certain species, such as H. mutabilis and H. tiliaceus, changes with age. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule dehisces (splits open) at maturity.

Uses

in Hawaii.]] , India, during late spring (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis).]] Many species are grown for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs. Many species are used to attract butterflies and bees. Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many herbal teas.

One species of Hibiscus, known as Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), is extensively used in paper making. Another, roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable and to make herbal teas and jams, especially in the Caribbean.

In Jamaica and many other islands in the Caribbean, the drink is known as sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa; not to be confused with Rumex acetosa, a species sharing the common name sorrel) and is considered a quite popular at Christmas time. It is served cold and mixed with other herbs, roots, and spices and sweetened with cane sugar. Often it is served mixed with Jamaican rum or wine but is also refreshing without any alcohol. Roselle is typically boiled in an enamel-coated large stock pot as most West Indians believe the metal from aluminum, steel or copper pots will destroy the natural minerals and vitamins. A large quantity of the flower is used to ensure a thick dark red tea is made. The tea is popular as a natural diuretic and contains vitamin C and minerals and is used traditionally as a mild medicine.

All over the world, the tea drink is consumed hot or cold. It is known as Bissap in West Africa, Karkadé in Egypt and Sudan, flor de Jamaica in Mexico, Gongura in India and Brazil. Some refer to it as roselle, a common name for the hibiscus flower.

In Mexico, it is well known for its color, tanginess and mild flavor; once sugar is added, it tastes somewhat like a more intense herbal and berry (cranberry, raspberry, blueberry, etc.) infused tea. Dieters or people with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic.

In Cambodia, a cold beverage can be prepared by first steeping the petals in hot water until the colors are leached from the petals, then adding lime juice (which turns the beverage from dark brown/red to a bright red), sweeteners (sugar/honey) and finally cold water/ice cubes.

Certain species of hibiscus are also beginning to be used more widely as a natural source of food coloring (E163), and replacement of Red #3 / E127.

Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, the Nutmeg moth, and the Turnip Moth.

The Hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is considered to have a number of medical uses in Chinese herbology.

The bark of the hibiscus contains strong bast fibres. They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea in order to let the organic material rot away. In Polynesia these fibers (fau, pūrau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs.

Hibiscus, especially White Hibiscus and Red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots make various concoctions believed to cure ailments such as cough. The flowers are boiled in oil along with other spices to make a medicated hair oil to prevent greying and hair loss. The leaves and flowers are ground into a fine paste with a little water and the resulting lathery paste is used as a shampoo plus conditioner.

A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 8.1 point in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 point drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage. Study participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 or above) had a greater response to hibiscus tea: their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2 points. These data support the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a role in controlling blood pressure, although more research is required.

In the Philippines, the gumamela (local name for hibiscus) is used by children as part of a bubble-making pastime. The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out. Hollow papaya stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles.

Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be candied and used as a garnish.

The red hibiscus flower is traditionally worn by Tahitian women. A single flower is tucked behind the ear. It is used to indicate the wearer's availability for marriage.

National symbol

Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.

Species

In temperate zones, probably the most commonly grown ornamental species is Hibiscus syriacus, the common garden Hibiscus, also known in some areas as the "Rose of Althea" or "Rose of Sharon" (but not to be confused with the unrelated Hypericum calycinum, also called "Rose of Sharon"). In tropical and subtropical areas, the Chinese hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis), with its many showy hybrids, is the most popular hibiscus.

Several hundred species are known, including:

Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex Hiern. - False Roselle

Hibiscus aponeurus Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray - Kokio ula (Hawaii) Hibiscus brackenridgei A.Gray - Mao hau hele (Hawaii)

Hibiscus calyphyllus (Tropical Africa)

Hibiscus cameronii

Hibiscus cannabinus L. - Kenaf

Hibiscus clayi O.Deg. & I.Deg. - Hawaiian Red Hibiscus (Hawaii)

Hibiscus coccineus (Medik.) Walter

Hibiscus dasycalyx - Neches River Rosemallow

Hibiscus denudatus Benth. - Pale Face (Southwestern United States, Northwestern Mexico)

Hibiscus dioscorides A.G.Mill. (Yemen)

Hibiscus diriffan A.G.Mill. (Yemen)

Hibiscus diversifolius

Hibiscus elatus

Hibiscus escobariae

Hibiscus ficulneus

Hibiscus fragilis DC. - Mandrinette (Mascarene Islands)

Hibiscus furcellatus Desr. - Lindenleaf rosemallow (Caribbean, Florida, Central America, South America, Hawaii)

Hibiscus fuscus

Hibiscus genevii Bojer (Mauritius)

Hibiscus grandiflorus Michx. - Swamp Rosemallow (Southeastern United States)

Hibiscus hamabo

Hibiscus hastatus

Hibiscus heterophyllus - Native Rosella

Hibiscus indicus

Hibiscus insularis Endl. - Phillip Island Hibiscus (Phillip Island)

Hibiscus laevis All. - Halberd-leaved Rosemallow (Central and Eastern North America)

Hibiscus lasiocarpos

Hibiscus lavaterioides

Hibiscus ludwigii

Hibiscus macrophyllus

Hibiscus macropodus

Hibiscus malacophyllus Balf.f. (Yemen)

Hibiscus militaris - Syn. of Hibiscus laevis

Hibiscus moscheutos Welw. ex Hiern. - Crimsoneyed Rosemallow (Central and Eastern North America)

Hibiscus mutabilis L. - Cotton Rosemallow (East Asia)

Hibiscus paramutabilis

Hibiscus pedunculatus

Hibiscus platanifolius

Hibiscus radiatus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. - Chinese hibiscus (East Asia)

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. - Roselle, Omutete, or Sorrel

Hibiscus schizopetalus

Hibiscus scottii

Hibiscus socotranus

Hibiscus sinosyriacus

Hibiscus splendens

Hibiscus stenanthus Balf.f. (Yemen)

Hibiscus striatus

Hibiscus syriacus L. - Rose of Sharon (Asia)

Hibiscus tiliaceus L. - Sea hibiscus (Australia, Southeast Asia, Oceania)

Hibiscus trilobus

Hibiscus trionum L. - Flower-of-an-Hour

Hibiscus waimeae A.Heller - Kokio keokeo (Hawaii)

References

Category:Flowers Category:Medicinal plants

Name	Manu Dibango
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Emmanuel N'Djoké Dibango
Born	December 12, 1933Douala, Cameroon
Genre	Afrofunk, afrobeat, jazz, makossa, traditional
Occupation	Saxophonist and vibraphone player
Years active	1972–present
Url	www.manudibango.net

Manu Dibango, born Emmanuel Dibango N'Djoké on 12 December 1933 in Douala, Cameroon) is a Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player. He developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music. He is a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, though his mother was a Duala. He is best remembered for his 1972 afrobeat single "Soul Makossa", often considered the first disco record.

Biography

Early life

Dibango was born on 12 December 1933 in Douala, Cameroon. His father, Michel Manfred N'Djoké Dibango was a civil servant. The son of a farmer, he met his wife travelling by pirogue to her residence, Douala. A literate woman, she was a fashion designer, running her own small business. who was four years older than him. In Cameroon, one's ethnicity is dictated by their fathers, though he wrote in his autobiography, Three Kilos of Coffee, that he has "never been able to identify completely with either of [his] parents."

After being educated at his village school, in 1941 Dibango was accepted into "the white man's school", from the compound. While there, he was forced to learn French. He admired the teacher, whom he described as "an extraordinary draftsman and painter." In 1944, French president Charles de Gaulle chose this school to perform the welcoming ceremonies upon his arrival in Cameroon.

Career

He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group African Jazz, and has collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. In 1998 he recorded the album CubAfrica with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa.

The song of the same name on that record contains the lyrics "makossa", which means "(I) dance" in his native tongue, the Cameroonian language, Duala). It has influenced several popular music hits, including Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", as well as his re-recording of that song with Akon, the Fugees' "Cowboys", and Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music". The 1982 parody song "Boogie In Your Butt" by comedian Eddie Murphy interpolates Soul Makossa's bassline and horn charts while "Butt Naked Booty Bless" by 1990s hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers heavily samples its musical bridge and drum patterns.

He served as the first chairman of the Cameroon Music Corporation, with a high profile in disputes about artists' royalties. Dibango was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2004.

His song "Reggae Makossa" is featured on the soundtrack to the 2006 video game . In August 2009 he played the closing concert at the revived Brecon Jazz Festival.

Discography

Soul Makossa (1972) Fiesta records

O Boso (1973) London/PolyGram Records

Africadelic (1973)

Makossa Man (1974) Atlantic Records

Makossa Music (1975) Creole RecordsLicensed from "Societe Francais Du Son - France"

Manu 76 (1976) Decca/PolyGram Records

Super Kumba (1976) Decca/PolyGram Records

The World of Manu Dibango (1976) Decca Records

''Ceddo O.S.T (1977) Fiesta Records

A l'Olympia (1978) Fiesta Records

Afrovision (1978) Mango/Island/PolyGram Records

Sun Explosion (1978) Decca/PolyGram Records

Gone Clear (1980) Mango/Island/PolyGram Records

Ambassador (1981) Mango/Island/PolyGram Records

Waka Juju (1982) Polydor/PolyGram Records

Mboa (1982) Sonodisc/Afrovision

Electric Africa (1985) Celluloid

Afrijazzy (1986)

Deliverance (1989) Afro Rhythmes

Happy Feeling (1989) Stern's

Rasta Souvenir (1989) Disque Esperance

Polysonik (1992)

Live '91 (1994) Stern's Music

Wakafrika (1994) Giant/Warner Bros. Records

African Soul - The Very Best Of (1997) Mercury

CubAfrica (with Eliades Ochoa) (1998)

African Woodoo (2008) from tracks recorded between 1971 and 1975 for cinema, TV, and advertising.

References

Sources

External links

"Manu Dibango" World Music Legends

Category:1933 births Category:Living people Category:Cameroonian musicians Category:Fania Records artists Category:Makossa Category:Saxophonists Category:Vibraphonists Category:World music musicians