Hibiscus cannabinus
L.
Vegetable kenaf, Indian hemp
(c) Wynand Uys, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Wynand Uys
(c) Frances Murray-Hudson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Shin-Ming Ku, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds, Pods, Fruit, Flowers, Seeds - oil, Bark, Gum, Vegetable
Young leaves are cooked and used as a potherb or added to soups. They have an acid, sorrel-like flavour. Seeds can be roasted or ground into flour and made into a type of cake. The root is edible but very fibrous, mucilaginous, and without much flavour. An edible oil is extracted from the seeds, with yields varying from 2 to 10 tonnes per hectare.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It is cultivated in S China. It can grow in well-drained sandy soils and in dry but seasonally waterlogged places. It grows between 15-2,130 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 500-635 mm. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A herb. It can grow from seed each year or keep growing from year to year. It grows up to 3.5 m high. It has a few sharp spines. The leaf stalk is 6-20 cm long. The leaf blade has 2 forms. The leaves lower on the stem are heart shaped and those higher on the stem have 4-7 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. These lobes are sword shaped and 2-12 cm long by 0.6-2 cm wide. They have teeth around the edge. They taper at the tip. The flowers are yellow, white or ivory and red at the base. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are large and up to 10 cm across. They have very short stalks. The fruit is a capsule about 1.5 cm across. The seeds are kidney shaped.
Nutrition Score: 63/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds dried | 8.1 | 1785 | 427 | 20.2 | — | — | — | — |
| Leaves | 79 | 280 | 67 | 5.5 | 34 | — | 12.1 | — |
How to Grow
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun. Tolerates most soils but prefers a light sandy soil. Plants are adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions. Kenaf is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 57 to 410cm, an annual temperature range of 11.1 to 27.5°C and a pH in the range of 4.3 to 8.2 (though it prefers neutral to slightly acid). The plant is frost-sensitive and damaged by heavy rains with strong winds. Kenaf is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, where it is grown mainly as a fibre crop but also for its seeds and leaves. It is not very hardy outdoors in Britain; it requires a frost-free climate. It can, however, probably be grown as an annual. A fast-growing plant, it can be harvested in 3 - 4 months from seed. The plant requires temperatures in the range of 15 - 25°c. It succeeds as a crop as far north in N. America as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Plants are daylight sensitive, they remain vegetative and do not flower until the daylength is less than 12.5 hr/day. Two weeks of very cloudy days will induce flowering as daylength approaches 12.5 hr. The plant has a deep-penetrating taproot with deep-seated laterals. Plants, including any varieties, are partially self-fertile. Kenaf is typically harvested in late summer to early autumn when the plants reach maturity. Kenaf usually flowers in summer. Kenaf grows rapidly, reaching 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) within 4 to 5 months after planting.
Propagation: Sow seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough. For annual cultivation, plant out into permanent positions in early summer with frame or cloche protection until established. To grow as perennials, keep plants in the greenhouse through their first year and plant out in early summer of the following year. Take half-ripe cuttings in July or August in a frame, and overwinter in a warm greenhouse before planting out after the last expected frosts.
Medicinal Uses
The juice of the flowers, mixed with sugar and black pepper, is used to treat biliousness with acidity. The seeds are considered aphrodisiac and are added to the diet to promote weight gain. Externally, seeds are applied as a poultice for pains and bruises. The leaves are purgative, and a leaf infusion is used to treat coughs. In Ayurvedic medicine, the leaves are used for dysentery and bilious, blood, and throat disorders. Powdered leaves are applied to Guinea worms in Africa. Stem peelings have been used in the treatment of anaemia, fatigue, and lassitude.
Other Uses
Kenaf can be used for erosion control and as a cover crop to improve soil health. It accumulates minerals including selenium and boron and can be used as a bioremedial tool for removing these from contaminated soil. The stems yield a fibre that is a good jute substitute, though slightly coarser. Fibre strands measure 1.5–3 metres in length and are used for rope, cordage, canvas, sacking, carpet backing, nets, tablecloths, and similar products. For the best fibre quality, stems should be harvested shortly after flowering; the finest fibre comes from the base of the stems, so hand pulling is often preferred over machine harvesting. Average fibre yields are around 1.25 tonnes per hectare, though 2.7 tonnes has been achieved in Cuba. Stem pulp has been used in paper making. The seed contains 18–35% of a semi-drying oil similar to groundnut oil, used for burning, lubrication, soap making, and the production of linoleum, paints, and varnishes. Stems have been used as plant supports for runner beans. Soot from the stems provides a black pigment for dyes. The stem has also been used as a base for fire-drilling. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with their nectar and pollen. The foliage provides habitat for beneficial insects, and leaf litter can serve as shelter for invertebrates.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Hibiscus cannabinus is a frost-tender annual or perennial growing rapidly to 1.8 m, hardy to UK zone 10. Hermaphroditic flowers appear August-September with seeds ripening October-November; insect pollination and self-fertility occur. The plant attracts wildlife, accommodates light sandy to heavy clay soils with good drainage, tolerates mildly acid to basic pH, requires full sun, and prefers moist conditions.
Other Information
Leaves are sold in markets. It is high yielding and popular.
Notes
There are about 220 Hibiscus species.
Names & Synonyms
Abirai, Amalakwang, Ambada, Ambadi, Ambari, Baguitche-de-mato, Bombajska konoplja, Da ma jin, Dare, Deccan Hemp, Ebirai, Egwanyira, Emalakany, Etoke, Folere-burure, Gamboor, Gaynaru, Gnilorbey, Gogu, Gonkura, Guinea hemp, Kanjaru, Kanuriya, Karkandji al goz, Kasini, Kikululu, Kolokondwe, Kudrum, Lubeera, Malakwang, Masinzia, Meseka tenga, Mestapat, N'coco, Nalita, Narcino-branco, Nsorogwe, Nyaduwa, Nyarogena, Ombira, Oseille indigene, Patsan, Paw sai, Pitwa, Pulichhai, Pulimanji, Pulupu kura, Pundi, Queque, Safed kudrum, Sankola, Sheria, Shougree, Sonkwe, Sosoori, Tid, Tisha, Umhlakanye, Usse, Wuya, Yeberha wayika
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