Common Name:

General Information

Hibiscus mechowii is a prickly annual to perennial plant with stems that can become woody and persist; it can grow around 2 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fibre. The plant is occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves and is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Habitat

Ruderal and wild, in abandoned plantations or cultivated fields, wooded steppes, savannahs, sandy, shady river banks, swampy alluvial plains; at elevations from 915 - 1,250 metres[, ]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves are used to make a cough medicine in the treatment of pulmonary problems[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark[]. It is used for making nets and also for wrapping steamed manioc[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ or in containers. Germination is usually fairly rapid and no special pretreatment is needed, although germination will be faster if the seed is abraded or soaked prior to sowing[]. 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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