Congo jute
Urena lobata

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or herb. It grows from seed each year. It grows to 2 m high and spreads to 2 m across. The stem is erect, coarse and hairy. It has an open crown. The bark is stringy. Leaves are green and have 3-5 lobes. They are soft, hairy on both sides and 4-8 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. Underneath the leaf is white with prominent veins. The edges of the leaves are finely toothed. Leaves occur at the tops of branches. The leaf stalks are hairy. Flowers occur singly and have petals united forming a tube. Flowers are pink or can be violet with yellow in the middle. The petals are soft. Flowers are 1-4 cm across. The fruit is a rough, spiny, woody, capsule. It is about 1 cm across. It has 5 cells each with one seed. The seed are wedge shaped and 3 mm long. They have a dull surface and are dark brown. There are named varieties.

The plant is used in medicine. There are about 6 Urena species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It will grow in most soils and under many conditions. It is damaged by frost and drought. In Papua New Guinea it mostly grows at low altitudes but occurs to 1500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Martinique, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They can be dried and used as an adulterant of patchouli leaves. The seeds can be eaten raw. They are also used in soups or porridge. The flowers are eaten raw.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flowers, vegetable, seeds - oil, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bacaranco, Bachita, Ban okhra, Bherlattha, Bilokapasiva, Bur-fruited Urena, Cadillo, Cancanadje, Cancane, Chope, Corda, Dadjolo, Dajulo, Dale kuro, Di tao hua, Dinkambwala, Hong hua shi mu tou, Kafi-rama, Karasu, Kat-sine, Ke hoa-dao, Khee-khrok, Ki krawk, Kikulokoso, Kolokondwe, Kolokoso, Lapetua, Lunzunzu, Maklolokoso, Mautofu, Msapatonje, Nede, Ottatti, Otte, Ottututti, Paw seng, Peddabenda, Phan-thien-hoa, Pink-flowered burr, Pinkburr, Pithia, Popee, Pulut-pulut, Pungala, Pungpurutan, Toro, Ualacaca, Unga, Uram, Uran, Urena Burr, Van bhendi, Vana-henda, Wetchi-pane, Yakuwa, Zambira

Synonyms

Urena americana L. f.; Urena grandiflora DC.; Urena lobata var. americana (L.f.) Gurke; Urena lobata var. trilobata (Vell.) Gurke; Urena reticulata Cav.; Urena trilobata Vell.;