Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn.

Species

Angiosperms > Malvales > Malvaceae > Abelmoschus

Characteristics

A small erect shrub. It grows from 0.5 to 1.5 m tall and spreads from 0.5 to 2 m across. The leaves are 5-8 cm long by 4-7 cm across. The upper leaves have deep lobes. The edges of the leaves have shallow rounded teeth. The flower stalks occur at the end of branches. They are covered with velvety hairs. The flowers are 5-7 cm across. The flowers have short stalks and are white to red. Flowers last a couple of days. The seed capsule is 5 angled. Under the ground there is a fattened root storage system which develops as plants dry off. The plant has small hairs which cause itching.
Life form annual
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 2.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Usually found in grassland, bushland, fallows or as a weed in cultivated land. It also occurs in water-logged soils near rivers. Found at elevations from near sea level to 1,350 metres.
More
It is a tropical plant. It often grows on clay and alluvial soils and near ditches. It can grow in arid places.
Light -
Soil humidity -
Soil texture -
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 8-12

Usage

The roots and leaves are eaten. They are roasted. The seeds are used for perfuming coffee. They can also be used for sweetmeats. The fruit are eaten raw.
Uses animal food coffee substitute environmental use fiber fibre food food additive gene source improve material medicinal technical
Edible fruits leaves roots seeds stems
Therapeutic use Wounds and injuries (root), Asthma (seed), Wound healing (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed. It can also be grown from stem cuttings which start to grow easily. During the time when plants have died back they can easily be transplanted by carefully lifting the underground storage system.
Mode seedlings
Germination duration (days) 15 - 30
Germination temperacture (C°) 23 - 26
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment soaking
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Abelmoschus ficulneus unspecified picture

Distribution

Abelmoschus ficulneus world distribution map, present in Australia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Tanzania, United Republic of, South Africa, and Zambia

Conservation status

Abelmoschus ficulneus threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20008221-1
WFO ID wfo-0000510865
COL ID 8JZP
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Laguna sinuata Laguna angulata Abelmoschus alboruber Abelmoschus ficulneus Abelmoschus strictus Hibiscus prostratus Hibiscus mauritianus Hibiscus ficulneus Hibiscus sinuatus Laguna aculeata Abelmoschus alborubens Hibiscus strictus Hibiscus ficulneus var. alboruber