China jute
Abutilon theophrasti

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 100-160 Abutilon species. Seed (Fresh weight) Protein: 17.4 Fat: 16 Carbohydrate: 33.8 Ash: 4.4 The plant is grown for its fibre.

Where it is found

It grows in Mediterranean climates. It needs full sun and a fertile well drained soil. It can grow with a pH in the range 5 to 8.2. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China (country/location of origin), Europe, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mediterranean, Mongolia, North America, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The unripe seeds are eaten raw or cooked. The ripe seeds are ground into flour and used in soups and bread. Old seeds are washed to remove the bitter taste then sun dried and made into flour. The leaves have a nice taste but not good texture.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, leaves, oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They germinate in 2-3 weeks. They can be put in a nursery and transplanted. In warm places seeds can be sown directly where they are to grow.

Its other names

Local names

Abutilon hemp, American jute, Baržunasti oslez, Button Print, Button Weed, Canapina, Chingma, Him-a, Ichibi, Indian mallow, Kanatnik, Maba, Paima, Qing ma, Tientsin Jute, Velvet Weed, Zaslazu

Synonyms

Abutilon avicennae Gaertn.;