hibiscus in the philippines - international hibiscus · pdf filethe extract of the natural red...

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Hibiscus International The Official Publication of the International Hibiscus Society

www.internationalhibiscussociety.org

Volume 4, Number 4 ( No.21 ) October-December 2004

EDITOR: Constantino García Domínguez, Montevideo, Uruguay

From The President‟s,

Secretary/Treasure‟s Desk I wish to extend a warm and hardy

welcome to our newly elected Board of

Directors. I welcome you one and all to the

International Hibiscus Society Board of

Directors. You have been elected to the

Board of Directors of the International

Hibiscus Society that now boasts 310

worldwide members. You will now have

the opportunity to participate in the

decision making process that will shape the

future destination and goals of the International Hibiscus

Society over the next two years. I am looking forward to

working with you over the next few years to achieve these

goals as set forth in the original IHS Charter.

Good luck to you all and welcome aboard.

http://www.internationalhibiscussociety.org/

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Volume 4, Number 4 Hibiscus International October-December 2004

Secretary-Treasurer Report It is with much sadness that I have had to accept the resignation of our Web

Master Mr. Joseph Dimino due to an on going illness. We have all benefited

from Joseph‟s creative talents and many innovations and features that are

now permanent features of the IHS WEB SITE. We will all miss JD and he

will surely be a tough act to follow.

Wayne C. Hall-President

International Hibiscus Society

From The Editor’s Desk

Hi Hibiscus Friends,

After a long period of learning the ropes I‟m

happy to finally present Vol. 21 (Oct-Dec 2004)

of Hibiscus International, almost totally made

by Carlos Quirino, our last Editor of Hibiscus

International.

I sincerely thank Wayne Hall, Dick Johnson,

Carlos Quirino and other members of the

Board for expressing their trust in my abilities

in carrying on with the responsibilities of Editor of Hibiscus International.

I believe that as from now on you will be receiving regular issues of Hibiscus

International after the missing issues are completed in the near future.

BTW, I invite all members to write short articles and/or send photographs

with explanations so that they can be published on time each quarter for

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everyone to share. This is very important because everyone around the world

has something to say about their local hibiscus, hybridizing experiences,

germinating seeds, growing seedlings, usage of rootstock, grafting, pruning,

feeding plans, pest control, etc. etc. What is obvious and routine for some, can

be an absolute novelty for others, and it is through such shared experience

that we can create an on line consultation library for everyone worldwide.

Please send your information and queries to my e-mail address:

[email protected] . I shall be happy to include or answer them in

following issues.

May Hibiscus Enthusiasm be with you!

Constantino García Domínguez

INDEX

From The President‟s/Secretary/Treasurer‟s Desk by Wayne Hall ………………… 1

From the Editor‟s Desk by Constantino García ……………………………………… 2

Mystical India by Francy Kakkassery………………………………………………… 4

A guide to hibiscus varieties in India………………………………………… 4

Kerala: God‟s own country............................................................................... 5

Hibiscus of India……………………………………………………………… 6

Islandman by Gloria White…………………………………………………………….. 10

Caring for Hibiscus: On rejuvenating garden beds by Jim Purdie………………….. 12

Art Imitates life by Constantino Garcia.......................................................................... 13

From the Archives by Carlos C. Quirino……………………………………………… 14

Board of Directors (2004-2006)………………………………………………………… 25

What’s the name of this beauty?

mailto:[email protected]

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AAA GGGuuuiiidddeee TTTooo HHHiiibbbiiissscccuuusss VVVaaarrriiieeetttiiieeesss IIInnn IIInnndddiiiaaa By: Francy Kakkassery

India, one of the biggest countries in South Asia, with an

area of 3.2 million sq. kms., is second in position in the

world with more than one billion human population. The

northern side is bordered with Nepal, China and Bhutan,

North-East side with China, Burma and Bang-ladesh.

North-West side with Pakistan and West-South with

Arabian Sea, East south is the Bay of Bengal and South side

(Map of India) is the Indian Ocean. The length of country

from South to North is 3,214 kms. and width from East to west 2,933 kms.

Politically, India is divided into 28 states, on the northern tip is Jammu and

Kashmir and southern tip with Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The major four cities

are New Delhi (capital of India, located in the north Central position),

Mumbai (the biggest city, in the west side, it was called Bombay before),

Kolkata (situated in the east side, it was formerly

named Calcutta ) and Chennai (in the south side, it

was known as Madras). India gained freedom on

15th

August 1947 after four centuries of British

regime, by the sustained non-violence strategy of

our late National father, Mahatma Gandhi. Now,

one of the largest democratic countries in the

world showing fast growth and develop-ment in

the

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field of economy and other areas. India, unlike other countries, has wide di-

versity in culture, language and religion. The majority of population is Hindu-

82%, Muslim-11%, Christians-2%, and others such as Sikhs, Buddhists,

Parsees and Jains, altogether 5%. India has two official lang-uages, Hindi (the

National language) and English. In addition, there are 17 scheduled

languages, 1652 un-official and verbal languages. (Upper and left photos: The Taj

Mahal , one of the seven wonders of the world, in Agra, near New Delhi)

Kerala is one of the smallest

states in In-

dia and is

located (Map

of Kerala) in

the southwest

corner of this country.

On its west is Arabian

Sea and east is western

Ghats (an array of

mountains with tropical rain forest). The

average height of Western Ghats

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is 900mts and peaks are over 1800mts. Kerala has a typical tropical climate ,

warm and humid with plenty of sunshine and rain. Kerala is blessed with 44

rivers , lakes and backwaters . The landscape is very beautiful and attracts a

large number of tourists from many countries. The population is so high, 32

million people are living this small state( 38,863 kms), with an average density

of 819 people per sq/km. The rice is the staple food of Keralites, and in most of

the states of south India whereas wheat is favored in North India. The lang-

uage is Malayalam, but Hindi and English are also spoken languages. The

major crops are Rice, Tea, Coconut, Coffee, Rubber, Banana Cashew, Pep-

per, Cardamom and other spices (Upper right photo: House Boats in Lake)

The first westerner, a Portuguese navigator -- Vasco de Gamma, came to

India, to the Malabar coast (Kerala), in 1498. He arrived here after an

adventurous sea voyage, encircling the Cape of Good Hope of Africa and thus

opened a new sea route to India from Europe. They called Hibiscus flowers

“shoe flowers”, because the natives here used the sap of these flowers for

polishing shoes.

Even though the written history of Hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis, a double red

hibiscus) was made known to the world by the renowned Swedish scientist

and modern taxonomist -- Carl Linnaeus, who described the same in his book

Species Plantarum (1753), it was earlier described and noted in a book, Hortus

lndicus Malabaricus, with illustrations of its characteristic features by its

author -- Henri Van Reed (Left lower photo), the

Dutch Governor, who lived in Cochin, Kerala, India,

during the period from 1663-1677 A.D. In fact, it was

originally published in Latin from Amsterdam (1968)

and recently it came to light in English translated by

University of Kerala after 325 years. Van Reed

described 742 plant species which were collected

from this area where the amazing biodiversity of

plants added interest to his enthusiastic life. The

single red form was also reported growing wild on

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the Malabar Coast of India (previously the northern-part of Kerala state was

known as Malabar) but this area was not established as its native habitat. It

was regarded H. rosa-malabarica and not considered allied to H. rosa-sinensis.

The origin and native country of Hibiscus is clearly not known. But the

literature says that, "rosa-sinesis" means "Rose of China” and it might

possibly have been disseminated and propagated in other Asian countries by

traders of that time.

In Kerala, the Hibiscus is called “Chemparathi” in our local language –

Malayalam. Here, as in most states in India, the hibiscus is a common plant

and is employed as boundaries to the houses and plots of land. It is a

wonderful sight in the spring season ( in August and September immediately

after the Monsoon season) with all the plants in bloom.

In India, flowers and parts of the hibiscus plant are used for a variety of

purposes. Hibiscus flowers are included in the offerings to the Hindu Gods in

Temples with some fruits. Besides this, these flowers are of use in Indian

systems of Medicine, as it is otherwise called “Ayurveda”. The five petals of

red coloured hibiscus flowers are brewed in coconut oil which is used as hair

oil to have healthy, black and thick hair which is considered as a good sign of

beauty amongst Indian woman. Nowadays, the Hibiscus hair oil is com-

mercially available in the Indian market.

The crushed leaves of Hibiscus are still used as shampoo lotion by many

Indians because the slimy secretion cleans hair quite well. As medicine, having

a cup of milk with ground buds of hibiscus flowers is supposed to be good for

controlling excessive bleeding by women. The extract of the Hibiscus flowers

is used to rub on the burns on the skin, which has very effective healing

power. The extract of the natural red colour of Hibiscus flowers and green

colour of leaves were also used in the olden days in mural paintings, which

decorate the walls of Hindu Temples as well as Christian Churches. Hibiscus

flowers are also used to make different Kerala dishes, such „Thoran‟,

„Theeyal‟ and „Mezukkuperatti‟. The flowers are also used to make soft

drinks. The major cities in India actively involved in the cultivation and trade

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of Hibiscus plants are Bangalore (in South India) and Kolkotha (North-East

Region). The Indian Horticulture Institute in Hassargatta, near Bangalore,

has developed a good number of hybrids of these flowers. In Kolkotha, a lot

of varieties are imported from Hawaii and other parts of the world and doing

very good business there. Hereunder are but a few varieties which grow in

India.

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Even though many Indians are involved in Hibiscus cultivation not only for

its aesthetic beauty but also for the medicinal purposes, they are not

coordinated as a group or society (to my knowledge). There are some reasons

for this including the vast geographical area of our country and lack of proper

communication among the hibiscus lovers here. For now, I am trying to

organize an Indian Hibiscus Society and hope it materializes in near future.

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By: Gloria White

The American Hibiscus Society Convention in 2002, brought me together

again with friends such as Audrey McCarthy and Bradley Christian. The first

show I attended in 2002, they were the two visiting judges from St. Croix and

I was assigned to clerk for Ms. McCarthy and two Florida judges. I was

warned that in the Islands, there was no talking or loud noises while judging

was going on. My friend Georgia Pape and I, who helped me clerk, had

trouble keeping in our exclamations of amazement when large and beautiful

flowers were placed before our eyes. We were soon yelling “Gold,” when a

flower was awarded the coveted ribbon.

Audrey McCarthy introduced me to her friend Austin Monsanto. In the

Islands, Monsanto known as Babe started in hibiscus in 1984-85. His office

was moved to a new location on the Windward Passage in St. Thomas.

Outside the window were these beautiful flowers growing in the courtyard. “I

could not believe my eyes,” exclaimed Monsanto. It did not take long before

the lure of the Queen of the Tropics had another admirer in Babe. In 1985,

Monsanto joined the American Hibiscus Society and bought his first hibiscus,

Ma Folie.

In 1998, Monsanto was elected President of the St. Thomas Chapter, which

has been the only position he has held. When I asked him who was his favorite

hybridizer, right away Monsanto proudly stated, “Me!” Many of his cultivars

never were named or registered. His own favorite is Shirrell, named after his

granddaughter.

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When I asked him to tell me his favorite cultivar, Fourth of

July and Danmark (Left photo inset: C. Noble © 2003) came to

mind. The first for color, size and texture and the second for

texture. Monsanto grows over 200 cvs in his island paradise.

Monsanto is a retired U.S. Park Ranger and from the Virgin

Islands Port Authority and a veteran from the U.S. Army

after serving in two wars – World War II and the Korean War. He proudly

wore the hat proclaiming this achievement to the convention. He is a Rotarian

and an American Legion-naire. There is another side to Babe. I could sense

this after just meeting him. So I asked if he loved to dance and this gentle-

man, who is nearing his 78th birthday replied in the affirmative and informed

me that he works out in the gym everyday. Babe, maybe one day, that beauty

Danmark will find its way north to the Enchanted Garden. It is not far to go

on a magic carpet or as the crow flies. And who knows? You may find the

need to visit the Genie and come and see her gems of many colors.

F.Levavasseur © 2003

Today, the gems of many colors were bright and shining in the enchanted

garden located in the Peninsula of Flowers. The Mysterious Flower Genie

walked in her kingdom and smiled at the bevy of beauties row upon row. She

surveyed her treasure as she walked through the enchanted garden. These

gems displayed their worth in priceless abandon. One particular gem,

marked bluish lavender, white and reddish pink, was large and splendid in

the sun. The summer sun shone on this gem with a piercing brightness that

showed the rare qualities of this gem.

From the chronicles of the Mysterious Flower Genie from

the peninsula of flowers – Fourth of July

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ON REJUVENATING GARDEN BEDS Based On: Tip of the Week

By: Jim Purdie

In the past I have dug up a lot of my older hibiscus plants, which have been in

the ground for about 10 years, as they were not performing as I would like them to.

I find that after that length of time the plants become straggly from all the pruning

every year. When you prune, a new eye shoots away from the trunk providing the

growth and flowers for the next year. As there are only a certain number eyes on a

bush the plant starts to suffer when these eyes become depleted.

The trunks on a few of them are very thick and it takes a bit of muscle

to dig them up. When you dig the ground it is amazing just how the soil is

depleted of organic matter. Even though we have been adding mulch to the

top of the ground, the soil down below is very compacted and lacking any sign

of much of the organic matter.

So what I have been doing is removing as much of the old roots, which are

pretty thick after being there for 10 years, as I can, and turning the soil

over and breaking it up. Then I add compost and some Dolomite to bring the

Ph up to the correct level. After that has stood for a few weeks, I add a

mixture called Searles 5-in-1, which contains manure, blood and bone, sul-

phate of potash, ziolite, and some other ingredients. When this has settled in, I

plant my new plants that I have waiting to grow. I make sure to attach them

with some old panty hose to a solid 1 inch square hardwood

stake alongside each plant.

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Then, I cover the newly planted beds with a mulch of chopped sugarcane

tops which we buy here in bales, and the new plants star to come away great.

Even though I know the soil has to create its new set of microbes, at least the

soil has some new food for them to start to multiply and the plants will benefit

from their new enhanced garden bed.

Do you find that you get better results if you do this in your garden ? I

always notice a new grower will do very well when they first start to grow

hibiscus, as their plants are young and the soil in their gardens is not

depleted of the necessary nutriments. They will get some marvelous blooms

but as the years go on unless they do what I am doing, their plants drop off

and the blooms are not as good or plentiful.

oooOOOooo

Herm Geller Computer Art by Constantino Garcia

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HHiibbiissccuuss aanndd tthhee PPhhiilliippppiinneess –– Pearls in the Orient

By: Carlos C. Quirino, Jr.

The Philippines is a country consisting of 7,100 islands situated in the

southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. It‟s official name is the Republic of

the Philippines. These islands bask in the northern tropical zone and are

about 100 kilometers from the coast of mainland Asia. It has a total area of

300,000 kilometers and is an archipelago. The two

largest islands, Luzon in the northern part and

Mindanao in the south make up some two-thirds

of this total area. Most of the land on these two

islands and in some of the other smaller ones like

Mindoro and Palawan are mountainous and

covered with primary jungle forests. Volcanoes

dot the countryside as the Philippines sits atop the

western edge of what is generally known as the

Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The islands were named in

honor of Philip II of Spain after Ferdinand

Magellan, the Portugese explorer, led a Spanish

expedition to circumnavigate the world in search

of new trade routes for the King and Queen of Spain. In 1521, Magellan

sighted a group of islands in the central part of the Archipelago known as the

Visayas and landed on an island there called Cebu. This began a long period

of Spanish rule after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded the first Spanish

settlement in 1566.

The Spaniards introduced Christianity to the Philippines. Today, more

Christians live in the Archipelago than in any other Asian country. But, the

400-hundred year Spanish colonial yoke was overthrown in the 1890‟s after

several revolts against the rule of Castille. On June 12, 1898, national

liberation leadership declared the Philippines independent.

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Earlier that year, however, hostilities between the United States and Spain

broke into a declared war between these two countries in April 1898 and

culminated with the U.S. Fleet defeating the Spanish

Armada in the Pacific in the Battle of Manila Bay on

May 1. After both countries signed a peace treaty

towards the end of that year, the United States occupied

and took control of the islands but eventually developed

the country into a self-governing commonwealth in

1935. War broke out soon thereafter with the Japanese

occupying the islands from 1942 to 1945. With the Liberation of Manila by

advancing allied forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur of the United States

of America Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), the Philippines eventually

reestablished its full independence on July 4, 1946. Because it lies in the cusp

of South East Asia, the Philippines is known as the “Pearl of the Orient”. It is

a founding member of the United Nations, the ASEAN and several other

international organizations.

Hibiscus in the Islands: Pearls in the Orient

The Philippines is a largely mountainous country, with narrow strips of

lowland along the coastal fringes but also contains broad inland plains,

especially on the islands of Luzon and Panay. These islands were formed

about 50-million years ago as a result of the buckling of the Earth‟s crust and

volcanic eruptions.

The Philippine Trench, one of the deepest in the World, is located off the

northeast coast of Mindanao and reaches a depth

of 10,439 meters below the surface of the Pacific.

Scientists believe that this trench forms the

boundary between two tectonic plates which are

constantly pushing against each other. One plate is

bending downwards beneath the other. Deep

beneath the earth‟s crust, the descending plate

melts, creating magma and tremendous pressure that fuels sporadic eruptions

in some of the Archipelago‟s numerous volcanoes, notably Mt. Pinatubo,

Mayon (inset, upper left photo) and Taal. The Philippines also has many fine

bays and harbors. Those situated on the western coasts of the country

providing some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world.

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The Philippine Islands extend about 1,850 kilometers from north to south,

and about 1,100 kilometers from east to west. Luzon Island, which has an area

of 104,688 square kilometers, is the most important island in the Archipelago

and including Mindoro Island, form the northern group.

Several mountain ranges run generally north-to-south through northern

Luzon which include the Cordillera Central and the Sierra Madre chain in

the north east between which lies the fertile Cagayan Valley. Banaue

(pronounced: “ba-na-weh”), northeast of the highland mountain resort city of

Baguio (pronounced: “bag-yo”), the City of Pines and the Summer Capital of

the Philippines) in the Mountain Province of Benguet (pronounced “beng-

get”), is famous for its cascading rice terraces and is considered one of the

wonders of the world.

A Sunset In Manila Bay A Beach Sunset Rice Terrace Kalinga Warrior

The central part of Luzon and adjacent Mindoro Island are the country‟s

main rice-producing regions. The capital, Manila, stands on the eastern shore

of a superb natural harbor called the Manila Bay which is bounded in it

narrow entrance to the west by Corregidor Island, site of one of the most

fiercest battles between the invading Japanese Imperial Forces and the

defending Filipino and American soldiers at the outbreak of World War II in

the Pacific.

In the southeastern part of Luzon lies the Bicol region, a long, narrow

peninsula with a ragged coastline which is famous for, among other things, its

hot Sili peppers, the Pili nut tree and a string of active volcanoes that include

a perfectly shaped cone volcano, Mount Mayon and other less known

volcanoes such as Bulusan, Iriga and Isarog. The land in this area contains

undulating hills, flat plains and numerous hot springs were spas and water-

falls abound.

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The volcanic soils of Luzon Island are extremely

fertile making it ideal for farming and the growing of

ornamentals like hibiscus particularly the Gumamelang

Pula or red hibiscus – a variety of Pink Versicolor or

Rose Scott (left upper photo) which grows rampantly in

many gardens and along roads and highways leading

into towns and cities. It also has large deposits of

copper, gold and other valuable minerals and ores.

The central part of the Philippines contain a number

of other islands with medium-sized populations. Samar

(13,080 square kilometers) situated in eastern Visayas,

is a triangular-shaped hilly and verdant island. It is the

third largest in the Archipelago and is adjacent to the

peninsula of Bicol. It is basically a rural and farming

area where thousands of hectares of abaca (i.e.,

Philippine hemp), a variety of coconut species, maize

and rice are cultivated. Samar Island has many undiscovered and therefore

undeveloped fine white-, ash- and orchre-colored sand beaches. The moun-

tainous interior is blanketed with thick tropical forests teeming with wild flora

and fauna (left lower photo: Rosang Ibon).

Numerous local but older varieties of hibiscus grow wild in many of the hills

leading up to the interior of this island as in others some of which remain

unidentified. In a conversation

with Richard “Dick” Johnson, an

eminent hybridist of hibiscus resi-

ding in Tahiti whom this author

has dubbed the “Titan of Tahiti”,

he related that the identification

and naming of these older hibis-

cus rosa-sinensis varieties in the

Philippines may not be possible. It has become apparent that a number of

plants arrived in the Philippines from Hawaii, especially in the earlier years

and were never registered. Although they may have had an unregistered

name, it has been lost. Moreover, Dick further suggests that many were never

even given names and may have just had a number of color group desig-

nations (Upper left photo: Sangre de Christo. Upper right photo: Sugat ni Christo).

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Dick further adds that, in these cases, there are no records (i.e., photos or

registered names and descriptions) for many of these much older varieties.

This observation may indeed have some bearing with the fact that in the

early 1920‟s and 1930‟s, when the Philippines was a Commonwealth nation

allied with the United States of America, numerous Filipinos from the

northern Ilocos region in Luzon emigrated to Hawaii finding work in the

large pineapple plantations that dot that island chain in the center of the

Pacific Ocean. Often, these émigrés would come back home for visits to family

and friends. It is not beyond one‟s imagination that a number of them brought

back some rooted cuttings of the old Hawaiian hibiscus rosa-sinensis stock

that Dick Johnson speaks of.

Elizabeth Commans Baguio Mellow Yellow Baguio Orange

El Capitolio Sport Jewel of India Duke of Burgundy

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Because Filipinos love to garden, no matter how small their plots may be in

certain cases, it wasn‟t too long before these old varieties of hibiscus may have

eventually found their places in private gardens and other parts of the Archi-

pelago. Filipinos are a hospitable people and do not flinch when offering their

homes, however modest, for a few nights stay to new acquaintances. If such a

guest fancies a particular plant growing in a backyard garden of his host you

can expect the owner to root cuttings and send them to that person in a few

weeks time. This may explain why a number of old hibiscus rosa-sinensis

varieties growing in one island may be found thriving also in many other parts

of the Philippine Archipelago.

South of Samar are the other Visayan group of islands.

Leyte Island with an area of 7,214 square kilometers is

connected to Samar by the San Juanico Bridge (Right

photo inset) overlooking Leyte Gulf. This rugged, moun-

tainous and relatively undeveloped island became fa-

mous during World War II and was the scene of the first

landing of USAFFE troops when they recaptured the

Philippines from the occupying Japanese forces in 1944.

A beautiful modern-looking memorial statue marks the exact spot where

these forces landed and is located just south of the provincial capital of Tac-

loban. Leyte also hosts the Mahagnao Volcano and several national parks and

a lake. Imelda Marcos, wife of deposed Philippine President Ferdinand E.

Marcos and famous for her huge collection of named-brand shoes, was born

in Tacloban.

To the east and southeast of Leyte are the Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol

islands. Panay (1,515 square kilometers) is the westernmost island in the

Visayas Region. It has a roughly trapezoidal shape and

contains a rugged mountain range along its western side

and rolling uplands on the opposite east side of this

ridge. Farther east sprawls the Iloilo Plain, the most

fertile and more densely populated side of this island.

Farmers in Panay produce copra, sugar, rice and other

basic agricultural staples and vegetables like tomatoes,

eggplants, cabbage and okra. Okra (H. Esculentus: Left

photo) particularly, is grown in almost all the islands in the Archipelago, it

being pantropic.

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It is cultivated for its edible fruit (right photo, inset)

which, when immature, is succulent and edible. The

fruit has an elongated capsule which tapers gradually to

a point, is 10 to 25 centimeters in length and 1.5 to 3

centimeters in breadth, and contains rows of rounded,

kidney-shaped seeds. It is eaten in various ways and is

prized as an ingredient in many soup and stew

preparations. An analysis of the unripe capsules show

that these have the general characteristics of a succulent vegetable, and are

fair a source of iron and a good source of calcium.

The fruit of okra also contains abundant pectin. Some have observed that

the plant is aromatic, with an odor slightly resembling that of cloves. When

distilled with water the leaves yield an essential oil which, in time solidifies as

a crystalline camphor called “Basil Camphor”. The seeds of okra are mucila-

ginous and from this substance a syrup is made to relieve sore throats. Some

consider it to have an aphrodisiac effect. It also has many other medicinal

values. A decoction of the young fruit is used in treating fevers and problems

normally afflicting the genito-urinary organs. In dysentery, especially in

chronic forms, the bland mucilage is often beneficial. Toasted seeds of okra

are used as a substitute for coffee and an infusion has sudorific properties.

The city of Iloilo – the Queen City of the South, which rests on the

southeastern coast of Panay is the trading and commercial center of western

Visayas. There are many grand

houses still standing along the old

residential section of this city most

built along pre-war architectural

lines. Iloilo Island and its main city

were spared much damage during

the last conflict in the Pacific.

Surrounding most of these manors

of old are a number of large

manicured gardens that showcase numerous tropical and other flowering

plants. Once on a visit to that city, the author saw large bushes of Jewel of

India all carefully trained to grow as tall hedges pregnant with big beautiful

baby-pink double blooms that looked like delicious cotton candy from afar.

Certainly a soothing sight for sore eyes.

21


Think sugar. That‟s what Negros Island (12,705 square kilometers) is mostly

about. Thousands upon thousands of hectares are planted to cane in this boot-

shaped island. It is a verdant paradise with volcanic

mountains forming the backbone of a ridge stretching from

its northern tip all the way down to its

southern coasts. The highest point in

Negros is Kanlaon Volcano rising to a

height of 2,540 meters above sea level.

Because of its volcanic soils, bananas and

other tropical fruit trees are also cultivated. These include

bananas of all varieties, mangoes, pineapples, guyabano,

jackfruit, star apples (Kaimito), sugar apples (Atis), passion

fruit, water and honeydew melons, guavas, grapefruits and a

host of other citrus fruit varieties not seen elsewhere outside

of the Archipelago. In Negros is also grown a hibiscus plant

known as Kastuli (in Tagalog) or the “musk mallow”.

Musk mallow or Hibiscus Abelmoschus is found throughout the island in

open places, usually grasslands and old clearings at low and medium altitudes.

Like okra, it is pantropic. This plant is exceedingly variable in vegetative

character. It is an annual, erect, branched herb about one

meter high or less and is covered with very long hairs.

The leaves are orbicular-ovate to ovate, 6 to 15

centimeters long, variously angled or lobed, usually

broad, heart-shaped at the base, pointed at the tip, and

toothed in the margins. The flowers of H. Abelmoschus

are about 10 centimeters in diameter, with yellow petals

which are, however, purple at the base, inside. The

capsules of the musk mallow are oblong-ovoid and 5- to 7-centimeters long,

are covered with long hairs, and contain numerous musky seed. Records show

that the seed yields an essential oil that contains farnesol, an abundance of

palmitic acid, furfurol, acetic and ambrettol acid.

The seeds, after being pounded and prepared in decoction, are administered

as a diurectic, tonic, carminative and anti-hysteric. A mucilaginous decoction

of the root and leaves is used in the treatment of gonorrhea as for headaches,

rheumatism, varicose veins and fever. And like the effect that the fresh juice

22


of young coconuts have on certain organs of the human body, the fruit of H.

Abelmoschus, in powder or infusion, may be given for flushing and

stimulating the intestines and kidneys.

We now come to Cebu Island (4,442 square kilometers) which is east of

Negros, with both islands separated by a narrow strait bounded by the

Visayan Sea on the north and the Sulu Sea in the south. Cebu is a long, spear-

tipped shaped and narrow island with a mountainous backbone running along

almost its entire length. But for its size in the Archipelago, it is the most

densely populated island in the Philippines.

Festivals Sun n Sand Water Fun Little Surprises Collectibles

Cebu was the first island to be settled by the Spaniards in the mid-1500‟s.

It‟s chief city, also called Cebu, was founded by Spanish missionaries in 1565

and was the capital of the Philippines until 1571. Today, it is a

busy port and the central distribution point for trade for the

Visayan islands, Palawan to the west and Mindanao to the

south. Many people here and abroad still believe that

Tagalog, which is spoken in Luzon and other parts of the

country and is the root for the national language, Pilipino, is

the most widely used dialect in the Philippines but it is

Cebuano instead which holds that distinction. The Cebuano

dialect is a soft, romantic, melting and endearing one spoken

as a loving mother would to a child. Admonishments sound as

if one were asking for favors. Cebu and its main city is accom-

panied by a smaller island facing east called Mactan. Both are connected by a

bridge spanning a narrow strait. Mactan is where a number of world-class

hotels, beach resorts and the Mactan International Airport are located.

23


It was here, in 1521, where the explorer Magellan met his end at the hands of

Datu Lapu-lapu, the island‟s chieftain, in an abbreviated but fierce battle for

control. A simple but elegant bronze monument (inset, upper-left) has been

erected in honor of Lapu-lapu, the first Filipino who resisted attempts by

others to occupy an already settled archipelago.

If you ever get an opportunity to travel around the unbeaten paths around

Mactan and along most roadsides you will observe growing tall bushes of

what the author believes to be

Archerii (Albo Lacinatus [x] H.

Schizopetalus – Left photo inset) and

Sprinkle Rain (Unknown [x]

Unkown – Right photo inset). By tall,

we mean heights reaching seven

feet and higher as these bushes are

left to grow wild without benefit of

regular prunings. As to who or whom may have planted these, certainly

flower-loving Filipinos – as greenery and color play an important role in their

everyday lives.

If you are thinking of chocolates than Bohol Island (3,865 square kilometers)

has something to offer in terms of a delight but not of the culinary kind,

though. Situated southeast of Cebu, Bohol is roughly circular shaped and a

high plateau runs from the northeast to the southwest of this land. On its

western portion is yet another small wonder of the world called, the Chocolate

Hills – approximately 1,000 conical-shaped mounds that jut out from nowhere

each covered abundantly with tropical vegetation.

24


They are called these because during the dry summer months beginning in

June, these hills gradually turn a brownish-tan color and are a sight to see –

like Hershey‟s Kisses. All these hills were formed perhaps a million years ago

by the erosion of the overlying coral and limestone bedrock found in that part

of this island.

Sights and Sites In Bohol Island

A Bohol Beach Tarsius Bohol Village Store Hillside Cabanas

There is also one hibiscus specie – H. Cannabinus, with a delightfully-

looking bloom. It has a strong reddish-purple tone and grows in some parts of

Bohol Island. It is surprising because this particular plant has been known to

grow only in one of several Mountain Provinces in northern Luzon called

Bontoc and in Pangasinan Province south of Baguio

City. For those who are more familiar with this

plant in the Philippines, H. Cannabinus is also

known as Alas Doce (or, the Twelve o‟clock plant),

because of the subterranean midnight-like hue of a

flower the plant produces.

It is kept in some few private gardens for purely

ornamental purposes but is scarcely naturalized.

Hibiscus Cannabinus (inset, lower left) is a native of

the Old World but is also pantropic. This is an herb

with smooth and prickly stems. The lower leaves are entire and heart-shaped,

and the upper ones are deeply palmate-lobed. The sepals are bristly,

lanceolate, and connate below the middle, with a gland at the back of each.

25


The corolla is large, spreading, and yellow with crimson center and its

capsules are rounded and bristly as well. Seeds of Alas Doce are nearly

smooth and yields a 23.5 per cent edible oil – the Habel-zalim of old Persia,

which is used as an external application for pains and bruises. The plant is

often cultivated for its fiber and its leaves are used as a pot-herb. The whole

plant contains abundant polysaccharides, starch dextrin; much pectin;

tannin; phosphatides and some protein. The leaves are used as a purgative

and an infusion is used as a remedy for coughs. Others believe Alas Doce to be

an aphrodisiac.

Continued in Hibiscus International No.22

Board of Directors

President: Wayne C. Hall – Arizona, USA Immediate Past President: Carlos C. Quirino, Jr. – Metro Manila, Philippines Vice-President: Professor Mark Zarco – Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Secretary/Treasurer: : Sonny Stollings – Abingdon, Maryland, USA American Representative: David Franzman – Sta. Rosa, Calif., USA Asian Representative: Wilhelm Hing – Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines

Australian Representative: Jim Purdie – Brisbane QLD, Australia European Representative: Jean-Francois Giraud – Isere Valley, France

India Representative: Francy Kakkassery – Kerala, India Pacific Representative: Richard Johnson – Tamanu, Tahiti, French Polynesia South American Representative: Constantino Garcia Dominguez – Uruguay

oooOOOooo

[Ex-Officio Members] Webmaster: Joseph Dimino – Sicily, Italy

Past Editor of Hibiscus International: Carlos C. Quirino, Jr. – Metro Manila, Philippines New Editor as from Jan. 2005: Constantino García Domínguez – Montevideo, Uruguay

All Rights Reserved © 2004

Articles for use in this publication should be submitted by e-mail to the Editor at:

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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