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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Corchorus capsularis is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 3.5 m (11ft 6in) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 10. It is in flower in August, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Synonyms
Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves; Seed.
Edible Uses: Tea.
Leaves - raw or cooked[1, 2, 27, 46, 61]. Young leaves are added to salads whilst older leaves are cooked as a pot-herb[2, 183, 272]. High in protein. The dried leaves can be used as a thickener in soups[183]. A tea is made from the dried leaves[183]. Immature fruits are added to salads or used as a potherb.
Medicinal Uses
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Appetizer; Cardiac; Carminative; Demulcent; Laxative; Stimulant; Stomachic.
The leaves are appetizer, carminative, demulcent, laxative, stimulant and stomachic[240]. An infusion is used in the treatment of dysentery, fevers, dyspepsia and liver disorders[240]. A decoction of the roots and unripe fruits is used in the treatment of dysentery[240]. The seeds contain a substance that has a similar action on the heart to digitalin (from Digitalis spp.), but less intense in its action[240].
Other Uses
Fibre; Paper; Wood.
A fibre is obtained from the stems, it is the main source of jute[46, 61, 200]. The fibre is somewhat coarse and is used mainly for sackcloth etc[57]. The stems are harvested when the plant is in flower and are then retted (allowed to begin to rot) so that the fibre can be extracted[171]. This species tends to branch making fibre extraction more difficult[114]. Growing the plants very close together will prevent some of the branching. If used in making paper, the fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then ball milled for 4½ hours. The paper is grey/buff[189]. The very light and soft wood is used in making sulphur matches[158].
Cultivation details
Prefers a very fertile soil and a hot humid climate[169]. Tolerates very wet conditions according to one report[57] whilst another says that it does not tolerate waterlogged soils[169]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.1 to 6.8. Jute is sometimes cultivated for the fibre in its stem and also for its edible leaves[183]. It makes an excellent spinach substitute in areas with hot summers[183]. This species is not hardy in Britain but it can be grown as a half-hardy annual here, though it grows much better in areas that are warmer than typical summers in this country[27]. Some reports say that this plant is an annual whilst one says that it is perennial. Since the plant is not hardy in Britain we can only grow it as an annual. This species is very closely related to C. olitorius.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring, after the last expected frosts[200]. In areas with hot summers it should be possible to sow the seed in situ in mid spring.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
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.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
200266
Links / References
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