Austrian Post is thanking its loyal subscribers with a beautiful hibiscus flower on the loyalty bonus stamp.
As a genus, the hibiscus is a member of the mallow family. There are hundreds of different species, all native to tropical and subtropical regions. Hibiscuses can take the form of a herbaceous plant, bush or tree, with some species being perennial and winter hardy. A feature that simply cannot be overlooked is the opulent flowers, each of which comprises five large petals. The stamens have combined into a tube-like structure that extends far beyond the flower’s trumpet. After flowering is over, capsule fruits containing the seeds form.
Hibiscus flowers never fail to impress with their spectacular colours and shapes. Tropical species often have particularly large blooms in bright colours, ranging from white to yellow, orange and red, and pink to violet, with the flower’s base often being a darker shade than the rest. Many cultivated varieties are used as house plants or planted in parks and gardens, but for the most part, they are not winter hardy. The petals are used to make tea, and some varieties find use as medicinal plants or as dyes. The sumptuous blooms symbolise exoticism and a longing for distant lands, while for some countries they are the national flower, symbolising beauty, cheerfulness or strength, depending on the country. Here in Austria the garden hibiscus, also known as the hibiscus syriacus, is a popular bush whose many attractive flowers make them a welcome addition to any garden. People often use the alternative name mallow for the hibiscus, but, in fact, it is only distantly related to the true mallow.
