Hibiscus, or rosemallow, is a large genus of about 200–220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, and woody shrubs and small trees. 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, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity. *************Many of these species are grown for their showy flowers and many are used as landscape shrubs. Hibiscus syriacus (Mugunghwa or "Rose of Sharon") is the national flower of South Korea, while Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Bunga Raya or "Chinese hibiscus") is the national flower of Malaysia. The ma‘o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is the state flower of Hawai‘i. 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 Mexico, the jamaica drink is quite popular and is made from calyces of the roselle plant. In Egypt and Sudan, roselle petals are used to make a beloved tea named after the plant, karkade, which can be served with Golikas, a dish consisting of chocolate and rice. Hibiscus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes hibiscella, Hypercompe hambletoni, The Nutmeg and Turnip Moth.***********Extracts of some hibiscus species are claimed to have health benefits, including prevention of constipation, bladder infections and nausea, and high blood pressure. The studies that yielded these results are debated. An unspecified hibiscus plant is used to make a herbal tea, typically blended with rosehip. The bark of the hibiscus contains strong fibers. They can be obtained by letting the stripped bark sit in the sea for some time in order to let the organic material rot away. In Polynesia these fibers (fau, purau) are used for making grass skirts. They have also been known to be used to make wigs. Hibiscus, espcially white hibiscus is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots are used to make various decoctions believed to cure various ailments.****************The State of Hawai?i (Hawaiian: 'Moku?aina o Hawai?i') became the 50th state of the United States of America on August 21, 1959. The archipelagic state is situated in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from the mainland, at 21°18'41?N, 157°47'47?W. In the 19th century, Hawaii was also known as the Sandwich Islands. In dialects of American English, "Hawaii" is pronounced at least three different ways: (IPA pronunciation: [h?.'wa?.ji], [h?.'wa?.i], [h?.'wa?.?i]). In the Hawaiian language, there is also some variation possible, but the most general pronunciation is [h?.'v?i.?i] or [h?.'w?i.?i]. This last Hawaiian pronunciation is often used by native-English-speaking Hawaii residents, as well.