Abelmoschus crinitus (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Abelmoschus crinitus Wallich
- Family: Malvaceae
Synonyms
Hibiscus crinitus (Wallich) G. Don, H. cancellatus Roxburgh, Abelmoschus cancellatus (Roxburgh) Voigt.
Distribution
India, Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, southern China, Indonesia (Java), and the Philippines (Mindoro).
Uses
The tuberous roots are edible.
Observations
Erect herb, up to 1.5 m tall with tuber-like taproot, aboveground parts often prickly pilose. Leaves orbicular or transversely elliptical in outline, 5-7-lobed, 10-15 cm × 7.5-12.5 cm, upper ones often smaller; petiole up to 18 cm long. Inflorescence consisting of solitary axillary flowers or partly racemose; epicalyx segments 10-16, linear, 2.5-5 cm long, persisting in fruit; flowers 10-12.5 cm in diameter, yellow with small purple centre. Fruit an ovoid, hispid capsule, 3.5-5 cm long, with numerous seeds. A. crinitus is found in lowland areas subject to a pronounced dry season, in grassy fields, waste places and in teak forests, up to 200 m altitude.
Selected sources
3, 37, 79, 87.
Authors
L.E. Groen, J.S. Siemonsma & P.C.M. Jansen