The roselle, or hibiscus flower (洛神花), can be found in areas of high elevation in Asia. Here in Taiwan it is found in mountainous areas around Taitung and is known as the "ruby flower." In Taitung County, in the townships of Chinfeng (金峰) and Taimali (太麻里), at the foothills of the Dawu (大武) Mountain range, the hibiscus can be seen growing in red fields, swaying in the wind under azure skies.
Chinfeng and Taimali are Taiwan's major producers of hibiscus, with the crop covering over 200 hectares and accounting for around 90 percent of the country's output. Harvest time starts in late October, attracting loads of visitors and breaking the usual quiet of these small county townships.
Hibiscus, a member of the malvaceae family, flowers once a year. It is not indigenous to Taiwan, having been introduced from Singapore by the Japanese in 1910. They are seeded every May, with the flowers blooming in late October. The plants grow to between 1m to 2m. The petals are white with a touch of light purple. If you are interested in seeing the flowers in all their beauty you will have to get up early, however, as they are only open in the early morning, closing again by 10am.
Although the flowers are white, the roselle plant is known more for its characteristic red color which comes from the calyx, the protective layer that encases the developing bud. Once the flower has died, the calyx and ovary gradually swell in size, taking on the shape that farmers have likened to a ruby.
Every year, in late fall, whole fields of hibiscus can be seen on the mountain sides around Chinfeng. Visitors come to see them for their attractive appearance, although farmers also know them as hardy plants that can grow in various environments. According to Chuo Hsin-ming (卓新明), an instructor of agricultural affairs for the Taimali Farmers' Association, the hibiscus needs hardly any looking after reaching the sapling stage. As the leaves grow densely, all the farmers need to do is plant the seeds quite close to each other. This stops the sunlight filtering through, otherwise the plants would grow out of control.
The hibiscus does, however, like to be in sunny places, at high elevation, with plentiful rainfall and good drainage. Poor drainage will cause the roots to rot and retard growth. Chinfeng township has the Dawu Mountain range, as well as the Taimali River and Chinlun River running through it, creating perfect conditions for the flower. The surrounding area and air is clean, so food products made from these plants are completely safe to eat.
PHOTOS: YANG YI-MIN, TAIPEI TIMES
Harvesting the plants can be a time-consuming activity and often farmers' wives are drafted when the time comes to pitch in. They come armed with watering cans, wearing hats tied on with scarves to keep off the sun. The first task is to cut down the stems, heavily laden with fruit. The pickers then retire with the stems to the shade of a nearby tree, where they take off the red calyces.
During the harvest season, local government officers get together with communities to organize educational events and tell visitors about the hibiscus. People get to pick it, make their own fruit preserves and take part in a number of activities to discover the cultures of the local Paiwan and Lukai tribes.
Unfortunately, this year the hibiscus crop has been battered by typhoons, delaying the season by one or two weeks.
-- Translated by Paul Cooper
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