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PLANT PROFILE LIST
NAME: Velvetleaf Mallow
SPECIES / FAMILY: Abutilon Theophrasti / Malvaceae
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Indian Velvet Leaf, China Jute, China Mallow
CONDITIONS: Sun
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PARTS: |
EDIBLE |
TASTE |
RAW/COOK |
SEASON |
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All |
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Shoots |
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Leaves |
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Buds/Flowers |
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Fruits |
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RAW/COOK |
Summer |
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Roots |
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Seeds |
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RAW/COOK |
Summer |
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Nuts |
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Pods |
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Stalk |
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Bark |
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PORTION: small
COMMENT: Seeds - raw or cooked. They can be eaten raw when they are under-ripe. The ripe seed is dried and ground into a powder then used in soups, bread etc. It is washed first to remove any bitterness. Unripe fruit - raw. This is really more of a seedpod. (1) In other species flowers and or young leaves are edible.(2)
CAUTION:
NUTRITION: The seed contains about 17.4% protein, 16% fat, 33.8% carbohydrate, 4.4% ash (1)
MEDICINAL: Astringent; Demulcent; Diuretic; Emollient; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Poultice; Stomachic. (1)
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES: Fibre;
Oil; Paper. A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a jute substitute. It
is coarse but flexible and strong. It is also used in rope-making. It takes dyes
well. The fibre is also used for making paper, the stems are harvested in the
summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed in order to remove the fibres.
The seeds contain about 19% of a semi-drying oil. (1)
As a fiber source in Asia it has been used for rope, bags, coarse
cloth, fishing nets, paper stock even caulking boats,
leaves used as
toilet paper (2)
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):