Martha's exotic Backyard in Israel
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Chinese hibiscus, Shoe flower,
היביסקוס

Scientific name:		Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Common name:		Chinese hibiscus, Shoeblackplant
Hebrew name:		היביסקוס
Family:		Malvaceae, Mallow family, חלמיתיים

Life form:		Evergreen flowering shrub
Stems:		Aerial, erect, cylindrical, woody and branched
Leaves:		Alternate
Inflorescence:		Solitary cyme and axillary
Flowers:		5-8 green and free bracteoles; 5 green sepals; 5 petals, white, yellow, orange to scarlet and shades of pink
Fruits / pods:		Mostly abortive
Origin:		East Asia

Derivation of the botanical name: Hibiscus, ancient Greek and Latin name for some mallow-like plant. rosa-sinensis, Rosa, an ancient Latin name whose meaning has been lost; sinensis, of or from China; chinese rose. The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy. In parts of India the flowers are used to shine shoes.