Wild Jute is a branched annual herb, up to 1 m tall, usually erect,
sometimes found prostrate due to browsing by cattle. Young branches are
purplish, sparsely hairy. Leaves are oblong to lanceshaped, up to 12 × 3.5
cm, hairless or hairy, particularly on the veins. Margins are toothed with
a long bristle on the 2 lowermost teeth. Flowers are borne in in 1-3
flowered leaf-opposed clusters. Flowers are yellow, with sepals narrowly
lanceshaped, as long as the petals. Petals are 4-5, 5-7 mm long, 2-2.5 mm
wide, obovate tapering to a short ciliate claw. Stamens are many. Fruit is
a slender more or less erect, cylindric, many-seeded capsule, straight or
slightly curved, up to 7 cm long, 3-4-angled with a rough surface. The
species name trilocularis comes from the three-chambered ovary.
Young tender leaves are cooked and eaten.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are used as a plaster to reduce swellings. The seeds are used in
the treatment of gripe and nausea.
Identification credit: Gurcharan Singh
Photographed in Delhi.
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The flower labeled Wild Jute is ...