Wissadula periplocifolia
(L.) C.Presl ex Thwaites
Malvaceae
There is a question over the range of this species with some authorities saying it is found through tropical America, Africa and Asia. However, at least one treatment (Vollesen, Fl. Ethiopia Eritrea 2(2): 239. 1995) has separated the African form as Wissadula rostrata[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. Unless we find further information, we are treating Wissadula rostrata as distinct and Wissadula periplocifolia as being native in the Americas and in Asia[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Abutilon hastatum Ridl.
Abutilon periplocifolium (L.) Sweet
Sida periplocifolia L.
Wissadula zeylanica Medik.
Common Name:
Drawing of the leaves, flowers and fruit
Photograph by: Martius, C., Eichler, A.G., Urban, I., Flora Brasiliensis, vol. 12(3): fasicle 109, p. 441, t. 77 (1891)
General Information
Wissadula periplocifolia is a subshrub producing stems that are often annual, though woody at least at their base. The stems can be from 50 - 150cm tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
342- Title
- Flora of Jamaica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fawcett. W. & Rendle. A. B.
- Publisher
- British Museum
- Year
- 1910
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, so many name changes. Nevertheless, a very good guide to the plants of the Caribbean. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from various websites.
].
The plant yields an excellent fibre, but does not seem to be much utilized.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
342- Title
- Flora of Jamaica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fawcett. W. & Rendle. A. B.
- Publisher
- British Museum
- Year
- 1910
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, so many name changes. Nevertheless, a very good guide to the plants of the Caribbean. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from various websites.
,
382- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 52
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouro Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains parts of the Flora of Panama.
Range
Tropical areas of the Americas from central Brazil to Mexico and Texas; E. Asia - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, tropical China to Malaysia
Habitat
Thickets near sea level, dry slopes, roadsides[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. Moist thickets, wet forest, and brushy slopes in tropical America[
382- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 52
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouro Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains parts of the Flora of Panama.
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant thrives magnificently in barren and rocky soils[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
It is estimated that as much as 1 tonne of stripped bark can be obtained from a hectare, and that from 25 - 40% of cleaned fibre could be obtained from this[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Plants growing very near to each other will produce very tall stems, say from 3 - 3.6 metres tall and straight, but those that happen to grow far apart will send out side branches and make lower growth with shorter, less useful fibres[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
An excellent fibre is obtained from the bark[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The stems strip well and readily and the bark 'retts' out, leaving a fine fibre of a type to compete with jute (Corchorus spp.)[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
