Art in a Hibiscus

Gumamela, that is our local term for  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis! This is a plant that has been with all of us since we were born, and our grandparents were born. It can be called a heirloom plant. It can be found everywhere, at different colors, different leaves and different varieties. Some are planted as hedges at the margins of the property, some allowed to grow tall as tall shrubs, some fully manicured topiaries, and some in very beautifully pedestal pots. But many of these local varieties are just taken for granted, left growing at the sides, eaten by stray animals especially goat kids, and didn't receive any care from human beings. But they still strive to live, come rainy season nor long dry season! And that is how tolerant and resistant the gumamela plant is to us.

We have a plant relegated to the sides just like what i mentioned. But i know it has to be loved, cared for and given attention. The following shows some of the characteristics of even just a gumamela flower. And i am sure, there still are many angles i haven't shown. And the whole plant is much more useful than what we see! But please excuse me if this plant might be a hybrid, as i didn't know. It has been there for quite a while, as if it is a native!

Macro Monday 2
Monday Mellow Yellow
Through My Lens
Floral Friday Fotos

Perennially Blooming

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis: we locally call gumamela. A lot of varieties and species of Hibiscus we all know about and been hybridized here. And i have been posting a lot of them too in the past. But it is a much loved flower all over the world, and maybe it is one of those also which tolerates a very wide range of habitat. Here in our very hot and humid tropics, it is a very common sight and a perennial fixture throughout the year. It is also common to prune the branches regularly, so they wont grow so tall or wide.  No matter how poor the soil is, no matter how neglected it is, no matter how abused it is, they will still produce beautiful flowers, no matter what! Will you not love such a plant! 

I will just be posting one of them here, for a change!

the underside has whitish faded effect hue outside the petal overlap

 the stigma has the same red color of the inside petals, while pollen is bright yellow

 the deep throat has darker red color

 the almost spent flower at the end of the day

though the above photo is not of good quality, it shows an olive-backed sunbird sipping nectar.