Hibiscus bifurcatus
Cav.
Malvaceae
Common Name: Vinagreira
General Information
Hibiscus bifurcatus is a shrub growing 2 - 5 metres tall with rather weak, straggling branches[
426- Title
- Flowering Plants of Jamaica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Adams. C.D.
- Publisher
- University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible leaves and medicinal applications.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, north through Central America to Mexico.
Habitat
Swamps in forests[
426- Title
- Flowering Plants of Jamaica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Adams. C.D.
- Publisher
- University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
]. Mostly in open swamps or marshes, often along or near the seashore; at elevations up to 1,400 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants are resistant to root-knot nematodes[
298- Title
- Edible Leaves of the Tropics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin. F. W.; Ruberte. R. M. & Meitzner. L. S.
- Publisher
- Echo. USA.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9653360-1-8
- Description
- A terse guide, giving reasonable detail on the more common leaf crops and brief information on a wide range of lesser known plants.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The slightly acid leaves are used as a vegetable in parts of Brazil[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of the stem bark and roots is used to treat diarrhoea[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The leaves and flowers are macerated in water to make a refreshing drink that is used to soothe abdominal complaints[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
An infusion of the leaves is used to treat colds and coughs[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
A decoction of the leaves and fruits is used in the treatment of fevers, coughs and colds, disorders of the female reproductive system[
872- Title
- Journal of Ethnobiology Vol 17
- Publication
-
- Author
- Eugene S. Hunn (Editor)
- Publisher
- Society of Ethnobiology; Seattle.
- Year
- 1997 - 1998
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of articles on the various ways humans use plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The decoction is applied topically to treat skin problems[
872- Title
- Journal of Ethnobiology Vol 17
- Publication
-
- Author
- Eugene S. Hunn (Editor)
- Publisher
- Society of Ethnobiology; Seattle.
- Year
- 1997 - 1998
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of articles on the various ways humans use plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The mucilaginous sap of the plant can be used to clarify sugar syrups[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
].
A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used to make cordage[
872- Title
- Journal of Ethnobiology Vol 17
- Publication
-
- Author
- Eugene S. Hunn (Editor)
- Publisher
- Society of Ethnobiology; Seattle.
- Year
- 1997 - 1998
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of articles on the various ways humans use plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
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.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
