Common Name: China Jute

General Information

Abutilon theophrasti is an erect, annual plant with stems that can be unbranched or branched above, and that become somewhat woody at the base; it can grow 40 - 150cm tall, occasionally to 250cm[, ].
The plant is extensively cultivated for its fibre in many parts of the world, including China, Russia and eastern Asia. It is also used for food and medicines[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Original habitat unclear, possibly the eastern Mediterranean or south Asia. Naturalized in subtropical areas around the world.

Habitat

Cultivated ground and waste places in the Mediterranean[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Widely cultivated, mainly in warm temperate areas, the plant succeeds in a wide range of climates from the tropics to the temperate zone. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 14 - 25°c, but can tolerate 10 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 650 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 500 - 3,000mm[].
Requires full sun or part day shade and a fertile well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.9 - 8.2[].
Often cultivated as a fibre plant, Abutilon theophrasti has commonly escaped from cultivation and become a weed. It was introduced to N. America in the eighteenth century, where it has become a pestilential weed in many parts of the country[, ].
The plant takes 75 - 140 days from sowing the seed to harvesting the fibre[]. Average production of green plants is about 12 tonnes per hectare, yielding 1.8 - 2.4 tonnes of dry retted fibre[].
It is a hardier and more disease-resistant plant than Jute (Corchorus spp.)[].

Edible Uses

Seeds - raw or cooked. They can be eaten raw when they are under-ripe[]. The ripe seed is dried and ground into a powder then used in soups, bread etc[, ]. It is washed first to remove any bitterness[]. The seed contains about 17.4% protein, 16% fat, 33.8% carbohydrate, 4.4% ash[].

The seed is rather rich in a drying oil. Its chemical characteristics are close to cotton, sesame, and peanut oil. This natural and, especially, purified oil is suitable for the food purposes and for hydrogenation[].

Unripe fruit - raw[]. This is really more of a seedpod[].

Medicinal

Ophthalmic. Used in the treatment of dysentery and opacity of the cornea[, ].

The leaves contain 0.01% rutin and are used as a demulcent[]. A tea made from the dried leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery and fevers[].
Externally, a poultice of the leaves is applied to ulcers[].

The bark is astringent and diuretic[].

A tea made from the dried root is used in the treatment of dysentery and urinary incontinence[]. It is also used to treat fevers[].

The seed is demulcent, diuretic, emollient, laxative and stomachic[]. It is powdered and eaten in the treatment of dysentery, stomach-aches etc[].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a jute substitute for making sacking, cord, cordage, hammocks, fishing nets etc[, , ]. It is coarse but flexible, waterproof and rather strong[, , , ]. Fibre extracted from plants that have not reached their maturity are said to be fine enough to work iuto jams for carpet fillings and even fabrics[]. It is also used in rope-making and for caulking boats[, ]. It takes dyes well[, ].
The fibre is also used for making paper, the stems are harvested in the summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed in order to remove the fibres[]. The ligneous body of the plant gives more cellulose for paper stock than many other species[].

The seeds contain about 19% of a semi-drying oil[]. The seed is rather rich in a drying oil. It can be used for food, whilst its lower grades can be used for manufacture of drying oil and for technical purposes and also in the soap-producing industry[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Germination should take place within 2 - 3 weeks.

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