Gumamelas are large shrubs or small trees that produce huge, colorful, trumpet-shaped flowers over a long season.
Other common names include China Rose, Rose Mallow and Shoeflower.
Gumamelas are very common here in the Philippines.
Gumamela is cultivated as an ornamental plant because of its bright colorful and attractive flowers.
It is also planted as a hedge.There are many different varieties of gumamela.
The gumamela flower comes in many colors: red, purple, yellow, orange, pink, white and other color combinations.
The flowers are also attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Aside from ornamentation, gumamela is being used by some locals as alternative medicine.
The decoction of roots is used for cough and colds, the leaves are gentle laxative and soothes inflamed parts,
and the application of crushed flowers soothes wounds and sores. The infusion of flowers lowers also the body heat.
And the mixture of flowers and petals protects the alimentary tract.
Common gumamelas that thrives in the Philippines can also be used for tea.
In the Philippines, kids used the gumamelas as part of a bubble-making pastime.
The flowers and leaves are crushed until the sticky juices come out.
Hollow papaya stalks are then dipped into this and used as straws for blowing bubbles.
More beautiful photos of gumamelas here.