Roselle Hibiscus Sabdariffa

Seed Quantity: 15** Herbal medicine: Roselle is an erect, bushy herbaceous subshrub that tops out at anywhere from four to seven feet tall and almost as wide. Stems are typically round and smooth. Alternate, deeply lobed green leaves are usually three to five inches long with reddish veins and toothed margins. When flowers first open, they are light yellow with a rose or maroon eye. As they mature during their one-day life span, they gradually darken to a dusty rose color. Flowers hug the stem, as they are borne in the leaf axils on short petioles. However, the 3- to 5-inch flowers are visually significant as they bloom up the length of the stem during the late summer and early fall months when the days grow shorter.Image At the base of each flower is a fleshy, bright red structure called a calyx (sepal). It is this part that is harvested and used to make juices, sauces, jellies, wines, pies, and other tasty edibles. The calyces (or calyxes) are separated from the seeds for use in