According to Quijada (2001) Gumamela is a shrub that grows from one meter up to 4

meters high. Gumamela is also known as: Hibiscus, China Rose and Shoeflower. In the
Philippines, gumamela is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The gumamela flower comes in
many colors: red, yellow, orange, white, purple, pink and other color combinations.

Gumamela leaves, usually blended with Rose Hip has long been used in the Middle East
and Okinawa as herbal tea. Today, the use of gumamela tea is gaining worldwide popularity -
including Asia. Gumamela (Hibiscus) is associated with longevity.

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_characteristics_of_gumamela

According to Palomo (2001)Though each flower opens for only 24 to 48 hours, new buds bloom
continuously through the year, rarely leaving gumamela without showy color. The large flowers
have an 8-inch diameter and bloom in a range of colors from bright red to white, pink, peach
and yellow. The ovate dark-green leaves have a glossy finish and remain on the shrub year-round
to create a foliar backdrop for the striking blossoms. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted
to the flowers.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/characteristics-gumamela-93761.html

according to no author (2006) Gumamela (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,
and ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large,
conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five 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.

https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006030701610
Gumamela as Herbal Medicine

According to the Philippine Herbal Medicine (2005) As herbal medicine, gumamela

flower, leaves and roots are used. Gumamela has the following medicinal characteristics:
expectorant, diuretic, emollient, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anodyne and
refrigerant.

http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/gumamela.htm

According to Calpe (2011) Gumamela is used for the treatment of: Bronchitis - as an
expectorant, Coughs for sore throat, Fever - as refrigerant drink, Urinary tract infection, bladder
infections, High blood pressure, Prevention of constipation, Headaches, Boils, swelling &
abscesses, mumps

According to Stuart Jr. M.D(2015) Gumamela is an erect, much-branched, glabrous

shrub, 1 to 4 meters high. Leaves are glossy green, ovate, acuminate, pointed, coarsely-toothed, 7
to 12 centimeters long, alternate, stipulate. Flowers are solitary, axillary, very large, about 10
centimeters long, and 12 centimeters in diameter. Outermost series of bracteoles are 6,
lanceolate, green, and 8 millimeters long or less. Calyx is green, about 2 centimeters long, with
ovate lobes. Petals are red, orange or rose-white, obovate, entire, rounded tip, and imbricate.
Stamens form a long staminal tube enclosing the entire style of the pistil and protruding out of
the corolla. Ovary is 5-celled, styles are 5, fused below. Fruits are capsules, loculicidally 5-
valved, but rarely formed in cultivation.

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Gumamela.html