FoI
Brazil Jute
Share Foto info
Brazil Jute
aturalized Photo: Dinesh Valke
Common name: Brazil Jute, Malachra, Yellow leafbract • Hindi: वन भिंडी Van bhindi, विलायती भिंडी Vilayati bhindi • Marathi: रान भेंडी raan bhendi • Bengali: বন ভিংডী Ban bhindi • Gujarati: પરદેસી ભિંડૉ Pardesi bhindo
Botanical name: Malachra capitata    Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)
Synonyms: Sida capitata

Brazil Jute is a coarse, erect, simple or branched, annual herb 0.5-2 m high, which is covered with hairs. The leaves are circular, 5-15 cm in diameter, obscurely and shallowly lobed, finely toothed, and somewhat heart-shaped at the base. The flowers are borne in axillary and terminal heads. Sepals are short, and slenderly pointed at the tip. The petals are yellow, overlapping, and about 1 cm long. The bast (inner fibrous bark) is strong and is used in the manufacture of rope. The fiber is excellent, 8-9 feet long, and that experts have declared it little, if at all, inferior to jute. Brazil Jute is native to Tropical America, cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
Medicinal uses: The leaves and flowers are official in Venezuelan Pharmacopoea. According to Guerrero, the root and leaves, used in decoction, are considered emollient in enemas and for bathing purposes.

Identification credit: Dinesh Valke Photographed at Thane, Maharashtra.

• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,