Common Name:

General Information

Hibiscus calyphyllus is a perennial plant with stems that can become more or less woody and persist, it can grow up to 3 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a local source of food, medicines and fibre. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Thickets, roadsides in forests, riverine forests, at forest edges and in disturbed areas in forests, at elevations up to 2,100 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

In Tanzania, the plant grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,100 - 1,600mm[].
Succeeds in a variety of soils[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. They are wilted, chopped and boiled together with other coarse vegetables to improve the consistency and to make the sauce thicker[]. These are eaten frequently in moderate amounts[, ]. The dish is served with a staple such as rice[].

Medicinal

The leaves are crushed and applied externally as a treatment for sores and wounds[, ].

The roots are boiled and used in a steam bath, and the liquid also drunk, as a remedy for pneumonia[, ].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the stem[].

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.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is lesser, 17 or 71?