West African mallow
Corchorus aestuans

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A herb which grows 40-80 cm tall. It spreads over the ground. The stems are reddish and densely hairy. The leaves are sword shaped or oval, and taper towards the tip. The leaf blade is 3-8 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are dark green and have teeth around the edge. Often the lowest tooth, near the base of the leaf, is elongated into a bristle. The leaf stalk is 1-4 cm long. The flowers are yellow, and in pairs opposite the leaves. The fruit is a thin capsule 18-30 mm long. It has 2-5 valves and wings along the edge.

There are about 100 Corchorus species. Also in the family Sparmanniaceae and Tiliaceae

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally on volcanic ash soils. It grows on damp flats. It can be in savannah woodland. In Nepal it grows between 400-1000 m altitude. In Pakistan it grows from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andaman Is., Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America (country/location of origin), Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked as a potherb. The unripe fruit are cooked and eaten.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are often self sown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Awachuwaey, Balu jihar, Kanakadali, Chamalawi, Chamalimba, Chechbhaji, Chonch, Cunhunho, Etigo-akalocoro, Gon-shaw, Kagnama, Kukakudhinge, Lalel-babos, Nalu, Papau ockroe, Patoi, Phute jhangi, Pilaw-hka, Pilaw-yin,Rumput bayam rusa, Telele yabasangu, Thelele, Titapat

Synonyms

Corchorus acutangulus Lam.; Corchorus fuscus Roxb.; Corchorus oppositiflorus Hassk.;