II. HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA, L. 



I. InIKiHHI TKlN. 



Tliis plant, the red sorrel of the West Indies and the Rozelle 

 or Kouselle (corruption of Giselle) of Madras is cultivated in India 

 for a variety of purposes. Almost every pait of the plant tan be uti- 

 lized. The stems yielded a strong silky fibre known to conunerce 

 as '■ Hozelle Hemp."' The fie.shy calyces, which have a pleasant 

 acid taste, and a very attractive red colour are extensively used in 

 jellies, chutnies and preserves. In the West Indies a cooling drink 

 is also prepared from them. The seeds are useful in medicine and 

 the leaves are employed for salads and curries. Recently a further 

 method of utilizing this plant has l)een suggested, namely, the ex- 

 traction of a yellow dye from the petals. Material was sent to 

 England by the Officiating Reporter on Economic Products to the 

 Govermiient of India and was examined by Professor A. G. Perkin, 

 F.R.S., but the report was distinctly discouraging and it seems unlikely 

 that any success will be obtained.' 



This species is cultivated all over Inilia (except in the hills) 

 and in Ceylon. It is also extensively cultivated in Jamaica for 

 fibre and in the West Indies generally for the calyx. In India the 

 plant is known under the vernacular names of mesta, patwa, lal 

 amhari, kem]>u. The cultivation is simple. //, Suhdnriffu takes 

 somewhat longer to come into flower than //. miindhiiiNs, but is 

 nmch less .sensitive to waterlogging and to defective aeration. It 

 is sown as a kliarlf croj) and harvested in November or December. 

 The height of the plants varies with the cultivation but may reach 

 10'. They branch profusely, the branches arising from the base 

 and remaining parallel to the main stem which is not nnich stouter 



I Aiinculhtral /.filyi-r, No. 2, I'JUS. 



