Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Wild jute, East Indian mallow, West African mallow, Sour jute, Jungli jute
Wild jute is a very common plant found in the wild, growing near roadsides, open areas, and cultivated land spreading very quickly. They are not considered dangerously invasive, and can be removed easily by hand plucking.
Plant Characteristics
Wild jute plants grow to a height of 1-1.5 meters with an erect, well-branched stem that can be green or reddish-brown in color. Leaves are bright green with prominent sunken ribs, giving it a puckered appearance.
Wild jute plant leaves are about 5-10 cm long and have a mildly sour flavor, giving the plant its name Sour jute. They are ovate or lance-shaped with serrated edges and a slightly leathery feel.
Flowers of the Wild jute are small and bright yellow, each flower only about 5-10 mm in diameter with five distinct petals. The plants flowers in spring and summer, the flower quite distinctive and pretty against the green foliage.
Wild jute plants produce fruit capsules that are slender and elongated, about 2-4 cm long. These fruit capsules contain numerous tiny seeds that are small, dark brown or black in color.
Growing tips
Wild jute plants grow well in a variety of weather and soil conditions, thriving during monsoons and spring. The plant is capable of self-seeding, producing small seedlings all around the parent plants. Small birds and animals that eat the fruits can help in spreading the plant to new locations.
These plants are annuals that die down after the growing season. But since they are capable of self-seeding, Wild jute plants can continue to occupy certain areas.
These plants are very sturdy and do not need watering, fertilization, pruning, or care. They will grow, flower, fruit, and propagate very efficiently each season.
Uses of Wild Jute Plants
The stems are capable of producing a fiber that is similar to jute, but of much inferior quality. Raw or cooked leaves were eaten as famine food.
Wild jute plants can be used in erosion control since they grow in large numbers holding fast to the soil, protecting the nutrient-rich topsoil.
These plants are considered invasive weeds in agricultural lands, stunting the growth of cultivated crops. But they are easy to get rid of by mechanical or chemical means.
Hand plucking the plants before they flower and fruit can help remove the plants complely. Chemical methods include spraying or applying weedicides to the soil.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, which germinate very quickly in moist soil.
Photographed at: Koonammavu, Kerala
