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Hibiscus trionum

L.

Flower-of-an-hour

Malvaceae Edible: Leaves, Root, Pods, Flowers, Seeds, Vegetable, Flowers - tea Potential hazards — see below 11,237 iNaturalist observations

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(c) Dan Lory, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dan Lory

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Keri Charles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Keri Charles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Hibiscus trionum, commonly called flower-of-an-hour, bladder hibiscus, bladder ketmia, bladder weed, puarangi and venice mallow, is an annual plant native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. It has spread throughout southern Europe both as a weed and cultivated as a garden plant. It has been introduced to the United States as an ornamental where it has become naturalized as a weed of cropland and vacant land, particularly on disturbed ground.

Description

An annual herb. It can be erect or lie over. It is 25-70 cm high. The leaves are alternate. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The leaf blade has 3-5 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaf blade is 3-6 cm across. The central lobe is longer. The leaf blade is covered with coarse star like hairs. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are yellow and purple at the base. They are like a Hibiscus flower. The fruit is a capsule which is about 1 cm across. It is a hairy five celled capsule. There are many black seeds.

Edible Uses

Young leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. The roots are edible but highly fibrous, with a mucilaginous texture and very little flavour.

Traditional Uses

The shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten. The pods are used in soups and stews. The pods are sun-dried and powdered and used later in food in Sudan. The seeds are eaten raw and have a sesame flavour. The flowers are used as a herbal tea.

Medicinal Uses

The flowers are diuretic and are used in the treatment of itch and painful skin diseases. The dried leaves are regarded as stomachic.

Known Hazards

The oil from the seed contains gossypol. It is believed that this substance, when ingested, causes reduced sperm levels and infertility in men.

Distribution

It suits tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. It does best in a sunny position. It does not occur in hot humid tropical rainforest zones. It suits drier warmer places. It can grow in hot arid zones with a marked dry season. It grows between 2-2,635 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Botswana, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Caribbean, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chad, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, St Helena, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun. A very ornamental plant, it is an annual or short-lived perennial. Not very frost-tolerant, if started off early in a warm greenhouse it can be grown as an annual in Britain, flowering and setting seed in its first year.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse; germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. For annual cultivation, plant out in early summer with frame or cloche protection until established. For perennial cultivation, grow on in the greenhouse for the first year and plant out in early summer of the following year. Half-ripe cuttings taken in July or August can be rooted in a frame, overwintered in a warm greenhouse, and planted out after the last expected frosts.

Other Uses

The nectar- and pollen-rich flowers attract bees and butterflies. The plant provides some food and habitat for wildlife through its edible calyces and foliage, and can support beneficial insects through its leaf litter, though it is not a primary bird nesting site. The plant is not known for pest-deterrent properties.

Notes

There are about 220 Hibiscus species. Chemical composition (seed pods): Protein (crude) = 21.0% (dry). Fat = 0.8% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 8.4% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 10.9% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 7.3% (dry). Sucrose = 8.1% (dry). D-glucose = Ø% (dry). D-fructose = 0.7% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 14.4g. Threonine = 2.9g. Serine = 3.4g. Glutamic acid = 18.4g. Proline = 9.2g. Alanine = 3.8g. Valine = 4.1g. Cysteine (performic acid oxidation) = 0.6g. Methionine (performic acid oxidation) = 1.7g. Isoleucine = 2.9g. Leucine = 4.7g. Tyrosine = 2.3g. Phenylalanine = 3.2g. Lysine = 4.0g. Histidine = 1.7g. Arginine = 6.5g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.27% (dry). Potassium = 0.65% (dry). Magnesium = 0.68% (dry). Calcium = 1.45% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 2.51% (dry). Zinc = 94 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 218 mg/kg- 1 (dry). Manganese = 35 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 12 mg/kg-1 (dry).

Nutrition

PartMoisturekJkcalProteinVit AVit CIronZinc
Leaves6.3126330226.779.85.7
Shoots2121.89.4
Pods

Synonyms

Hibiscus africanus Mill.Hibiscus dissectus Wall.Hibiscus hispidus Mill.Hibiscus vesicarius Cav.

Also Known As

Bladder Hibiscus, Bladder Ketnia, Delelemukhwayo, Delelevhalemba, Etoke, Hatmi cicegi, Kihasihasy, Navadni oslez, Terblansbossie, Trailing hollyhock, Venice mallow, Waika sara, Ye xi gu miao

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