Corchorus capsularis

Corchorus capsularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Corchorus
Species: C. capsularis
Binomial name
Corchorus capsularis
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Corchorus cordifolius Salisb.
  • Corchorus marua Buch.-Ham. nom. inval.

Corchorus capsularis, commonly known as white jute,[2] is a shrub species in the family Malvaceae. It is one of the sources of jute fibre, considered to be of finer quality than fibre from Corchorus olitorius, the main source of jute. The leaves are used as a foodstuff and the leaves, unripe fruit, and the roots are used in traditional medicine.[3]

Description

Corchorus capsularis is an erect, annual herb, growing to two or more metres in height. It has globular fruits.[3] It probably originated in China but is now grown in Bangladesh and India, and found spread across much of tropical Africa. It is also cultivated in the Amazon region of Brazil.[4]

Uses

Fibre made from C. capsularis is whiter and of a higher quality than that made from C. olitorius. The fibre is extracted from the cut stems by retting in water, removing the soft tissue, curing the fibre and drying it. It is used for making sacks, bags, carpets, curtains, fabrics and paper.[4] C. olitorius and C. capsularis are the main sources of jute. The world production is concentrated in India and Bangladesh, where the crop grows well in the Ganges and Brahmaputra floodplains and delta region.[5]

The leaves and shoots of this plant are widely eaten in salads when young and are used as a cooked leafy vegetable when older. The leaves are dried and powdered to use as a thickener in soups or as a herbal tea. The immature fruits are also eaten, raw or cooked.[6]

The plant is also used in herbal medicine. The leaves have been used to increase appetite, as an aid to digestion, as a laxative and as a stimulant. An infusion of the leaves has been used to reduce fever, and the roots and leaves have been used against dysentery.[6] The seeds contain a digoxin-like substance and are poisonous to both animals and insects.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  2. ↑ USDA GRIN Taxonomy, retrieved 22 May 2015
  3. 1 2 Sultanul Abedin (2011), "Corchorus capsularis L.", Flora of Pakistan online
  4. 1 2 Cumo, Christopher (2013). Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants: From Acacia to Zinnia. ABC-CLIO. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-59884-775-8.
  5. ↑ Brink, M.; Achigan-Dako, E.G. (2012). Fibres. PROTA. pp. 98–103. ISBN 978-92-9081-481-8.
  6. 1 2 "Corchorus capsularis L.". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Grubben, G.J.H. (2004). Vegetables. PROTA. pp. 217–221. ISBN 978-90-5782-147-9.
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