Hibiscus vitifolius
L.
Tropical rose mallow
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Grant Reed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Grant Reed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Grant Reed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaHibiscus vitifolius, the grape-leaved mallow or tropical rose mallow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is native to the seasonally dry Old World tropics and subtropics, and has been introduced to the West indies. A perennial herb reaching 2 m (6 ft) and becoming woody at maturity, it is found in a wide variety of habitats, and is a weed of cultivation. It is used locally as a source of fiber, often mixed with jute.
Description
A herb or low shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaves are alternate and can be simple or have 3-5 lobes. The leaves at the top of the plant are oval. They are 2-15 cm long by 1-18 cm wide. They are hairy and have teeth along the edge. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are pale yellow with a dark red spot at the base. They are about 3 cm long. The fruit is a capsule that is a flattened round shape. It is about 1 cm long.
Edible Uses
The flowers and vegetative parts are edible.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows near the edge of dry rainforest.
Where It Grows
Africa, Asia, Australia, Comoros, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,
Cultivation
Often found as a weed of cultivated crops within its native range, it has the potential to spread as a weed in other, suitable areas.
Other Uses
A fibre is obtained from the stem. Of good quality, it is used in combination with jute (Corchorus species))
Synonyms
Also Known As
Bup la-nho
References (4)
- Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 173
- Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
- PROTA
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
