Jute, Bush Okra
Corchorus olitorius

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is upright, branching, and slightly woody. Plants vary in height, shape, leafiness and hairiness. Plants grown for leaves are usually only 30 cm tall. They also have many branches. Leaves are shiny and have leaf stalks. The leaves have teeth along the edge. The tips of the lowest leaves in each side, have long bristle like structures. Small clusters of yellow flowers grow in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are ridged capsules. They can be 7 cm long. These have partitions across them between the seeds. A ripe capsules contains 180-230 seeds. The seeds are dull grey and with four faces and one long point. Each seed has one pale line along it.

There are about 100 Corchorus species. They are also put in the family Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is mostly coastal, below 250 m altitude. Temperatures of 22°-35°C are suitable. It can stand both drought (2-3 weeks) and water-logging, except when young. A well drained soil is best. They require humus-rich soils. A pH of 5.5-7.0 is best, but they can grow in soils with pH up to 8.5. They also need adequate moisture for good leaf production. A rainfall of 1,000 mm is suitable. A high relative humidity (80-90%) is best. It produces seeds when day lengths are short. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Equatorial-Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves and stem tops are eaten cooked. (They are slimy unless fried.) They are also used to make a thick soup. Leaves can be sun dried, pounded to flour, then stored for a significant time. The leaves are used for tea drinks.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. An important vegetable in arid areas. It may not be used a lot in Papua New Guinea. It is a part of the national dish of Egypt. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable, fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants grow from seed, and they can be transplanted. Seeds are often broadcast into fine seed beds at the beginning of the wet season. Mixing the small seeds with sand makes it easier to sow them evenly. Often seeds are slow to start growing. This can be overcome by soaking them in hot water. A spacing of 20-30 cm between plants is suitable. For vigorous varieties this could be increases to 45-50 cm. Seeds are saved from pods for re-sowing.

First leaves can be harvested after 5-6 weeks. Tips about 20-30 cm long are picked. Production of edible green tips, is not large. 7-8 kg of leaf tips can be harvested from 3-8 pickings over 3-4 months. Seeds can be collected after 13-15 weeks. If seeds of a particular variety are desired, it is necessary to grow these plants 16 m away from other plants, to avoid cross pollination. Seeds can be stored for 8-12 months in well sealed jars.

Its other names

Local names

Ahu hara, Amolate, An-kin-kiri, An-kirin-kirin, Atigo, Atigo-agywa, Alilot, Awachuwaey, Awengdeg, Ayaak, Ayitop, Banpat, Bir narcha, Bogi, Bulukutu, Chench koha, Chichuria, Chilenzi, Chow, Daisee, Delele, Delelupfumo, Demain, Derere, Desipat, Dongo dongo, Enmomi, Ewedu, Eyo, Fetri, Filipino spinach, Fotokani, Fouam, Foukou, Gon-shaw, Grenguere, Guse, Gusha, Gwisha, Hololoqota, Idelele, Igogola, Jew's mallow, Jute mallow, Kaat thoothee, Kapilamoto, Kepotugunta, Kibwando, Kilankozolo, Krachaw, Krenkre, Krinkrin, Kudera, Kudowa, Kudra, Laliaq, Larita, Lemgambelle, Ligusha, Long fruited Jute, Lusaka-saka, Lusakalusaka, Malafiya, Malok, Mangaraw, Mara, Melokhia, Mentchelfale, Mithapat, Mlenda mgunda, Molukhia, Morapat, Moroheia, Msakasaka, Muhliye, Mulakhiyah, Mulembo, Mulugaya, Muomi pinpesi, Murere, N genge, N gengle, N'sore, Nainnouwi, Nalta jute, Nkuruma, Nyankajang, Nyenje, Othigu-kal, Otigo diri, Oyo, Parinta, Pasau, Pata, Pat shak, Pee-la-ka, Philippine okra, Pilaw-apo, Pilaw-chun, Pilaw-kha, Pilaw-thon-lon-byut, Po krachao, Rau day, Saluyut, Sanpat, Sigli, Singli, Sobe, Sobo, Sokeria, Sokorya, Sore, Soren, Sorre, Spanish okra, Tifaanti, Tifanhanti, Tipanoussante, Tita pat, Tossa jute, Tossa paat, Turgunnuwa, Udhing, Unsore, Vaizahrui, Valakotha keerai, West African sorrel, Yangui, Yoyo, Yute

Synonyms

Corchorus catharticus Blanco; Corchorus decemangularis Roxb. ex G.Don; Corchorus longicarpus G.Don; Corchorus malchairii De Wild.; Corchorus olitorius var. australiensis Domin; Corchorus olitorius f. grandifolius De Wild.; Corchorus olitorius var. incisifolius Asch. & Schweinf.; Corchorus quinquelocularis Moench;