Hibiscus mutabilis

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Malaya, Indonesia

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Abscess, Anodyne, Antidote, Bite(Snake)

Science studied: BETULINIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Malvaceae

Scientific name: Hibiscus mutabilis

Common names: Bomullshibiskus, Caractere des dames, Caractere des femmes, Caractere des hommes, Caractère des dames, Changeable Rose-mallow, Changeable rose, Confederate rose, Confederate rose (EN); Malva rosa (Cuba), Confederate rose (Lesser Antilles), Confederate rose or cotton rosemallow, Confederate-rose, Cotton Rosemallow, Cotton rose, Değişken Hatmi (Yol Hatmi), Dixie Rosemallow, Dixie rosemallow

POWO: 560549-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Elsewhere, Malaya, Indonesia.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Abscess
• Anodyne
• Antidote
• Bite(Snake)
• Burn
• Cancer
• Demulcent
• Dysuria

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Elsewhere
• Malaya
• Indonesia

Documented cultural uses

• Abscess
• Anodyne
• Antidote
• Bite(Snake)
• Burn
• Cancer
• Demulcent
• Dysuria
• Expectorant
• Fever
• Fistula
• Inflammation

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Abscess · China · "
• Anodyne · China · "
• Antidote · China · "
• Bite(Snake) · China · "
• Burn · China · "
• Burn · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer · China · "
• Demulcent · China · "
• Dysuria · China · "
• Dysuria · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · China · "
• Fever · China · "
• Fistula · Elsewhere · "
• Inflammation · China · "
• Menorrhagia · Elsewhere · "
• Pectoral · Elsewhere · "
• Refrigerant · China · "
• Scald · Elsewhere · "
• Sore · China · "
• Swelling · Malaya · "
• Swelling · Elsewhere · "
• Tumor · Indonesia · "
• Tumor · China · "
• Tumor · Elsewhere · "

8 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Integrating multi-omics and epiphytic microbial communities to decipher the spatiotemporal dynamics of flower color dynamic regulation in <i>Hibiscus mutabilis</i>. · 2026 source ↗
• Hibiscus Mutabilis-Inspired Upcycled TPEE Films with Orthogonal Wavelength-Controlled Spiropyrans for Dynamic Anticounterfeiting and Photoswitchable Conductivity. · 2025 source ↗
• Genome-wide analysis of the CBF gene family and their transcriptional response to cold stress in Hibiscus mutabilis. · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULINIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

checking published revisions…