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Hibiscus - Kissing the Dawn This dramatic flower was sketched from a photograph onto acid-free, black velvet artboard then painted in layers of pastel. In a friend's garden, this flower appeared surreal against the sky, the sun's rays highlighting the edges of its ruffled petals and leafy terrain. Hibiscus or Rosemallow is a genus represented by about 200–220 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae that are native to warm, temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions throughout the world. The genus also includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, woody shrubs, and small trees. Their flowers are large, conspicuous, and trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, orange, purple or yellow. About 40 species are native throughout the USA and much of Canada. Non-native species are widely cultivated for their showy flowers or used as landscape shrubs. Hibiscus roots, flowers, and leaves are consumed worldwide as a vegetable, tea, or jam, as well as used to cure various ailments. A 2008 US Department of Agriculture study showed consuming hibiscus tea lowered blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Other uses include the manufacture of clothing, wigs, and papermaking. It is widely used as a natural source of food coloring and a replacement for Red Dye #3. The original pastel, presented in a 2" stressed silver wooden frame (double matted in an acid-free grey-green suede on black-core mauve suede mat; outer dimension 22" x 27"), is available for $1,495. Limited edition prints and note cards are also available Click here for availability and price