今天我们说的扶桑(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis),大家都知道是指从热带地区引种来的锦葵科灌木(或小乔木)。但是在中国古代早期文献《山海经》和楚辞等都记载有“扶桑”,在《桑书·东夷传》里,不仅记载了因有大量“扶桑木”存在的扶桑国,而且记载了“扶桑”的基本特征:它“叶似桐”;“初生如笋”;果实“食如梨而赤”,“国人食之”;“绩其皮为布,以为衣,亦以为绵”;“以扶桑皮为纸”。这种描述,同现代我们所说的扶桑不同,“扶桑木”究竟是哪一种植物,引起了国内外学者的讨论。美国人亨利埃特·默茨女士所著《淡墨——中国人在美洲探险的两份古代记录》一书中,提出“扶桑木”乃是美洲印第安人的基本粮食作物玉米。她认为玉米果实虽与梨不相似,但共穗确有赤色者,而且是举国食之。景振国先生在1981年发表在《拉丁美洲丛刊》第四期上的《扶桑新释》一文,则把“扶桑”木解释为棉花,认为棉 Today we say Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, which we all know refers to Malvaceae shrubs (or small trees) introduced from the tropics. However, in the ancient Chinese ancient literature, such as “Shan Hai Jing” and “Chu Ci”, “Fusang” was recorded. In “Biography of Dong Yi, Dong Yi”, not only was it documented that there were a large number of “Fuso Wood” The basic characteristics of “Fuso”: “Ye Xitong”; “newborn as bamboo shoots”; fruit “eat pear and red”, “people eat”; “performance of their skin cloth, that clothing, also think of cotton”; “Fuso Paper Paper.” This description is different from what we call Fuso in modern times. Which kind of plant is “Fusan Mu”? It has aroused discussions at home and abroad. In his book, “Light Ink - Two Ancient Chinese Adventures in the Americas,” by American Henriette Mertz, he proposed that “Fusang Mu” is the basic food crop for American Indians. She believes that although the corn is not similar to pear, but it does have a total of red ear, and is the national food. Mr. Jinguang Guo’s “Fuso New Release”, published in the fourth issue of the Latin America Series in 1981, refers to “Fuso” wood as cotton and considers cotton