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Abroma augusta - (L.) L.f.

Common Name Cotton Abroma. Perennial Indian Hemp.
Family Malvaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards The plant has irritating hairs[272].
Habitats Forest margins, valley gullies in southern China[266]. Open, dry places at elevations from 300 - 1,100 metres in Nepal[272]. Commonly found in tufts or tickets, often seeming to prefer the edges of forests and clearings or the banks of watercourses[418].
Range E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to Micronesia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Abroma augusta Cotton Abroma. Perennial Indian Hemp.


edibleplants.org
Abroma augusta Cotton Abroma. Perennial Indian Hemp.
David E Mead wikimedia.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Abroma augusta is a SHRUB growing to 3 m (9ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Ambroma augustum (L.) L.f. Abroma alata Blanco. Abroma angulata Lam. Abroma angulosa Poir. Abroma communis Blanco. Abroma denticulata Miq. Abroma elongata Lam. Abroma fastuosa R.Br. Abroma javanica Miq. Abroma mariae Mart. Abroma mollis DC. Abroma obliqua C.Presl. Abroma sinuosa G.Nicholson. Abroma wheleri Retz. Ambroma augustum (L.) L. f. Herrania mariae (Mart.) Decne. ex Goudot. Theobroma augustum L. Theobroma mariae (Mart.) K. Schum.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The fresh viscid sap of the root bark is considered to be a valuable emmenagogue and uterine tonic[372]. The juice of the plant is used to treat dysmenorrhoea[46, 272]. The root has been used to treat itch[372]. Used in the treatment of diabetes[266].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
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Other Uses

Agroforestry Uses: The plant is used in soil reclamation projects[418 ]. Other Uses: A high quality fibre is obtained from the bark[46 , 266 ]. Soft, glossy, strong, white, and clean, it is much valued for local uses[272 , 454 ]. It might be used as a substitute for silk[454 ]. Similar to jute (Corchorus spp.), it is a good cordage fibre used for making ropes, nets etc[46 , 266 , 272 ]. It is also used for false hair[418 ]. The bark is retted in water, taking about a week before the fibres can be removed[272 ]. Sometimes grown as an ornamental[266, 317]. Carbon Farming - Industrial Crop: fiber.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Coppice  Regional Crop

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 31°c, but can tolerate 18 - 36°c[418].It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,300 - 3,500mm, and dislikes marked dry seasons[418]. Requires a sunny position[418]. Succeeds in most soils, so long as they are well-drained, growing best in a fertile, medium loam[418]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[418]. For the best quality fibre, the plant should be harvested when the flowers open - after about 100 - 120 days of growth[418]. The plant yields three crops a year, and is said to be more easily cultivated than jute (Corchorus spp.) or sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea)[454]. Can be grown as an annual. Bloom Color:Maroon/Burgundy. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: coppice.

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

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Plant Propagation

Seed. Propagated from seed. Seed germinate in 21–30 days at 72 °F (24 °C).

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Pisachkarpas, Ulatkambal

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.) L.f.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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