Volume 14 > Part 2 > Year 2019 > Page 266 > Malvaceae > Abelmoschus

4. Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik. var. pungens (Roxb.) Hochr.

Candollea 2: 87. 1924; S.Y.Hu, Fl. China, fam. 153: 35. 1955; Borss.Waalk., Blumea 14: 99. 1966; Sivar. & Pradeep, Malvaceae of S. Penins. India: 67. 1996; Y.Tang et al. in C.Y. Wu et al., Fl. China 12: 284. 2007.— Hibiscus pungens Roxb., Fl. Ind. Ed. 1832 3: 213. 1832.— Abelmoschus pungens (Roxb.) Wall. ex Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. 119 1845.— Hibiscus manihot var. pungens (Roxb.) Hochr., Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 4: 155. 1900.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Perennial herb or subshrub, 1–6 m. tall; stem erect, stiff hairy, glabrescent. Leaves variable in shape and size, 3–9-lobed, up to 30 cm in diam., apex acute, base cordate, sometimes hastate; lobes triangular, ovate, obovate, spathulate, oblong, elliptic, lanceolate to linear, margin serrate to dentate, stellate and appressed simple hairy on both surfaces; glabrescent; palmately 3–9-nerved from base. Petiole 3–20 cm long, stiff hairy, glabrescent. Stipules filiform, linear or lanceolate, 0.5–1.5 cm long, hairy, glabrescent. Flower axillary, solitary or raceme-like inflorescences on top. Peduncle 1–5 cm long, accresscent to ca 7 cm in fruit, hairy. Epicalyx lobes 4–6, ovate to oblong, acute to acuminate, 1–3 by 0.4–1 cm, stiff hairy on both surfaces, ciliate. Calyx 2–3 by 1.5–2 cm, outer surface tomentose inner surface sericeous. Corolla ca 12 cm in diam., light yellow, dark purple at the centre. Petals obovate, 3.5–7.5 by 3–6 cm, apex rounded, glabrous. Staminal column 1.5–2.5 cm long, glabrous; anthers subsessile, ca 1 mm long. Stylar branches yellow or white, 3–5 mm long; stigmas dark purple. Capsule oblong-ovoid, 3.5–6 by 1.5–3 cm, densely covered with long stiff simple hairs. Seeds numerous, globose-reniform, 3–4 mm long, dark brown, with concentric hairy lines.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son (Khun Yuam, Mae Sariang), Chiang Mai (Chiang Dao, Mae Chaem), Chiang Rai, Tak (Mae Ramat); NORTH-EASTERN: Sakon Nakhon, Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi.

Distribution : India to S China, Malesia.

Ecology : Cultivated, sometimes escaping from cultivation, often found in wet sandy soil, edges of mixed deciduous forests, limestone, roadsides, 400–1,500 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: September–December.

Vernacular : Po kaeo (ปอแก้ว)(Phrae, Phetchabun); po fai (ปอฝ้าย)(Northern).

CommonName : Kenaf.

Uses: Cultivated as ornamental. Root is used in paper making; seed, root and flower are medicinally used.