Hibiscus vitifolius - Grape Leaved Mallow

❏ Binomial Name : Hibiscus vitifolius L.

❏ Synonym : Abelmoschus vitifolius,Hibiscus heterotrichus,Hibiscus obtusifolius 

❏ Family : Malvaceae

❏ Common Name : Grape Leaved Mallow

❏ Tamil Name : Mani Thuthi, Manjal thuthi

❏ Hindi Name : 

❏ IUCN status : Not Evaluated

Hibiscus vitifolius Botanical Description

Shrub, up to 2.5 m tall, usually densely velvet-hairy all over. Leaves 2.5-6 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, subcordate-rounded at base, acute at apex, serrate to crenate, not lobed or shallowly 3 to 7-lobed, broadly ovate to orbicular, densely pubescent on both surfaces; stalk 1-5 cm long. They do look like grape leaves, hence the species name vitifolia. Flowers occur singly in leaf axils. Flower stalk is 1.5-3 cm long, in fruit up to 5 cm. Sepals fused below the middle, 1.5-2 cm long. Flowers are 4-6 cm across, pale yellow to yellow with a large, purple centre. Petals are 3-5 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, outside with simple and 2 rayed hairs towards the top, glabrescent, obovate. Staminal column 1-2 cm long, regularly antheriferous all over, glabrous. Capsule globose, 1-5 cm across, beaked, with reticulately veined wings; seeds tuberculate.  Fl. & Fr.: Throughout the year

Hibiscus vitifolius Medicinal uses

❀ Leaf infusion is taken with 50 ml of milk twice days to cure diarrhoea

❀ It is used for the treatment of jaundice, diabetes and inflammation

❀ The stem yields a fibre used for cordage, twines, ropes and fishing lines. The physical and chemical properties of the fibre of this plant closely resemble those of jute and can be used as a good substitute for it

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