Definition

Noun 1. A tropical plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) widely cultivated for its edible, fleshy red calyxes (the sepals that form the outer part of the flower bud) and for its fiber. * The roselle plant is also known as Florida cranberry or sorrel in some regions. * The deep red calyx of the roselle is harvested to make teas, jams, and sauces.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Farmers in the region grow roselle as a cash crop.
  • The tart flavor of roselle makes a delicious and refreshing herbal tea.
  • She used fresh roselle calyxes to prepare a traditional holiday jelly.

Advanced Usage

• "Roselle calyx": Specifically refers to the fleshy, often red, part of the flower used in cooking and beverages.
  • Dried roselle calyxes can be stored for months and used to make tea.
• "Roselle fiber": Refers to the bast fiber (from the plant's stem) used for making cordage or textiles.
  • In addition to its culinary uses, the plant provides a strong roselle fiber.

Variants and Related Words

• Jamaica sorrel (n): Another common name for the roselle plant, particularly in the Caribbean.
  • Jamaica sorrel is used to make a popular Christmas drink.
• Hibiscus sabdariffa (n): The botanical or scientific name for the roselle plant.
  • Hibiscus sabdariffa belongs to the same family as okra and cotton.

Synonyms

• Florida cranberry (n): A regional name highlighting the tart, cranberry-like flavor of its calyx.
• Red sorrel (n): A name used in various regions, emphasizing the plant's color and tart taste.

Related Terms

• Calyx (n): The collective term for the sepals of a flower, which in the roselle plant become fleshy and edible.
  • The vibrant red calyx is the most commercially valuable part of the roselle.
• Bast fiber (n): A type of plant fiber obtained from the phloem (inner bark) of stems, which the roselle plant also provides.
  • Jute and hemp are other well-known sources of bast fiber.

Noun

1. East Indian sparsely prickly annual herb or perennial subshrub widely cultivated for its fleshy calyxes used in tarts and jelly and for its bast fiber