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Useful Tropical Plants

Hibiscus asper

Hook.f.

Malvaceae


This species is not universally accepted as distinct. The 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families' accepts it as being closely related to, but distinct from, Hibiscus cannabinus; whilst the African Plant Database[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
] treats it as a synonym of Hibiscus cannabinus[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Hibiscus cannabinus chevalieri Hochr.

Hibiscus cannabinus punctatus (A. Rich.) Hochr.

Hibiscus cordofanus Turcz.

Hibiscus unidens Lindl.

Hibiscus verrucosus Guill. & Perr.

Ketmia glandulosa Moench

Common Name:

Hibiscus asper
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Emeline Assede; African plants - A Photo Guide
© Emeline Assede
Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper Hibiscus asper

General Information

Hibiscus asper is an annual to perennial herb growing up to 2 metres tall. The stems have fine prickles[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
1671
Title
Revision of Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in Africa and Asia
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 29( 1 ): 47-79
Author
Wilson F.D.
Publisher
 
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The plant is occasionally cultivated as a vegetable and fibre crop, especially in Senegal and DR Congo[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1671
Title
Revision of Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in Africa and Asia
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 29( 1 ): 47-79
Author
Wilson F.D.
Publisher
 
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Ethiopia and Uganda, south to Angola, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar.

Habitat

Ruderal and wild, in abandoned farm fields, savannahs, grassland, river alluvium, moist rock basins, and edges of gallery forest[
1671
Title
Revision of Hibiscus section Furcaria (Malvaceae) in Africa and Asia
Publication
Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 29( 1 ): 47-79
Author
Wilson F.D.
Publisher
 
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height2.00 m
PollinatorsSelf
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details



A locally selected type of Hibiscus asper with narrow leaves is cultivated on a small scale in Senegal[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[299. They are boiled and eaten as a vegetable, especially in the Sahel region[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
617
Title
Traditional Vegetables in Benin
Publication
 
Author
Achigan-Dako E. Et al
Publisher
Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].

Young fruits - cooked. They are mucilaginous and are used to thicken soups[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are dried over a fire and then applied to eczematous sores[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The leaves are also used to treat a range of other skin problems[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The plant is antidote, depurative, diuretic, restorative and tonic[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It is used to treat a variety of complaints including urethritis, anaemia, jaundice, malaria, angina, poisoning, painful and irregular menstruation, and leucorrhoea[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the plant[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Although the source is not mentioned, it is almost certainly from the stem bark[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ or in containers. Germination is usually quite rapid. Prick out container-grown seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions when they are 10cm or more tall.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Hibiscus+asper>

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