[PHOTOGRAPHY] Solid Gold

The beautiful Hibiscus flower is common in tropical, sub-tropical or warm climates, there are over six hundred species in the Hibiscus plant genus that usually sport large flowers that can come in many bright colors that can go from white to cream, several tones of yellow right up to almost golden, from pink to blood red, a wide range from salmon to bright orange, peach, lilac to purple, and even a couple of combinations of some of those colors. The Hibiscus happens to be the national flower of many countries, like Haiti, South Korea, Malaysia, and it's even the flower of the state of Hawaii. It is also a flower related with the goddess Kali in Hindu religion, and it is used as an offering for goddess Kali or for Ganesha also.

The Hibiscus flowers are edible in several countries where they are included in many traditional recipes, and even a refreshing cold or hot tea is often made from them in many countries. As a matter of fact there is an odd connection between Hibiscus and marshmallows. It so happens that the name Hibiscus comes from the Greek word ἱβίσκος (hibískos), which was the name that Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides (40–90 AD) gave to the Marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis, of the same Malvaceae botanical family as the Hibiscus). An extract of Althaea's roots were traditionally used in ancient Middle-Eastern cuisine to produce a snack called halva. The french took up that recipe and modified it with egg white meringue and flavored it with rose water, calling it pâte de guimauve, and this later evolved in what is now known as marshmallows, although it no longer contains any extract of the Marshmallow plant.

The following photograph is of a majestic golden Hibiscus flower right after short rain shower. The amazing color was too awesome to miss capturing in a picture.

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Solid Gold Hibiscus Flower