Bolo Bolo
Clappertonia ficifolia
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
Clappertonia ficifolia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 2.5
Where it is found
Swampy grassland, marshy places, stream-banks, valleys, fallow rice fields; forest fringes, thickets on margins of damp depressions; at elevations of 1,100 - 1,200 metres.
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, south to Angola and Mozambique.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, East Africa, Guinea, Guin?e, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Pacific, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Introduced and grown as an ornamental in many tropical gardens, for instance in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Borneo, New Guinea, Panama and the southern United States.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
In traditional medicine in DR Congo the leaves are used as a cure for liver malfunction.
Other
Rating: 4
The stems are a source of a valuable fibre that resembles jute (Corchorus spp.). The fibre is used for making rope, twine, cordage and mats, nets, hammocks, fish traps and paper pulp . Clappertonia ficifolia is one of the fibre-producing species within the mandate of the International Jute Study Group (formerly the International Jute Organization) together with jute (Corchorus spp.), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) and Urena lobata L. Although most research attention is directed to Corchorus olitorius L., the prospects for natural fibres are such that attention should be given to Clappertonia spp. as well. Widely planted in gardens as an ornamental.
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.
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.
Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.
How it is grown
Clappertonia ficifolia occurs from sea-level up to 1200 m altitude in swamps, riverine and swampy forest, forest fringes and thickets. In fallow land it can become dominant or even form an almost pure, dense stand and these populations are often exploited for fibre production. Clappertonia ficifolia is widespread and behaves as a weed in fallows. Hence, there do not seem to be threats of genetic erosion.
Propagating it: Propagation is possible by either root cuttings or seeds. Experiments in Nigeria just after the Second World War showed that an excellent fibre could be obtained when the stems of flowering plants were retted for about 28 days.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
In fallow land it can become dominant or even form an almost pure, dense stand and these populations are often exploited for fibre production.
Its other names
Local names
Cue-madzi,
Synonyms
Honkenya ficifolia Willd.