XHibiscus trionum - Flower-of-an-hourX
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Flower-of-an-hour (Hibiscus trionum), family Malvaceae (Mallow)
A pleased thanks to Barbara Hjermstad of Durango Colorado for her contribution of the flower photograph of this species! Trionum is the only member of hibiscus in Colorado according to botantist William Weber. There are a total, however, of 40 species in the genus. The plants are annual forb/herbs that are found in almost every state of the U.S. and much of Canada. They originated from east of the Mediterranean and spread to southern Europe. The blooms are true to the name - the open flowers last a mere one to two hours per day and are sometimes yellow. See a good photograph of the plant here. Barbara's plant 'popped' out of nowhere from their wheelbarrow garden. They live at an elevation of about 7000'.
USES: Per the website Plants for a Future: The flowers are diuretic and used in the treatment of itch and painful skin diseases. The dried leaves are beneficial to the stomach. As a food, young leaves and young shoots of the plant can be eaten - raw or cooked. The root is edible but very fibrousy and not very flavorable. The nutritional content is not known.
JUST FOR FUN: We were delighted to receive an email from Barbara Hjermstad recently asking for assistance in identifying her flower. The 'balloons' in her photo (technically they are calyx) belonged to a mystery plant that we originally sighted two years ago! We had never seen the bloom! Nearly 400 miles and 2 years later flower meets plant and the 'who' is revealed. Ironically the plants are sometimes called... Modesty.
More Wildflowers West photographs here.Flower -
Plant location: The flower, contributed by Barbara Hjermstad, comes from Durango Colorado. Foliage and calyx from the Adams County Regional Park, Thornton Colorado - September 11, 2008.
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Bloom season: June through September.
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