MISK MM. LOW AND KOZKU.K 



HIBISCUS 



TILIACEUS 



<>f tlit) entire 'roots of one or more plants, tied up with a portion of the stem. 



. I nnntnmiil cnstft 6 to 8 anmw per lb., and in Europe appear* to tell at 1*. Qd. to 



r lt>. [Cf. I'harmacog. Ind., 1891, ii., 446-9; De Silva, Indig. Food Prod., Trop., 



- > I _'. xi.. 520-1 1 Waring. Baz..Med., 1897, 72-3; Dutt^ Mat. Med. 



'., 1900, 195-0; Kept. Cent. Indig. Drugs Cornm., 1901, i., 124. 153; Rec. 



in- l,id.( 111. my passages) ; White and Humphrey, Pharmacop., 1901, 224.] 



HIBISCUS, Mr,n/ t -. : Fl. Br. Ind., i., 334-44; Cooke, Fl Pres. 

 />'..//</... 1901, ii., 104-14 ; Duthie, Fl Upper Gang. Plain, 1903, 87-93 ; 

 I'niin, Beng. Plants, i., 262-9 ; Wiesner, Die Rohst. des Pflanzenr., 1903, ii., 

 L'L'l 2 ; MALVACEAE. A genus of herbs, shrubs or trees, which embraces 

 about 150 species. Some 33 are indigenous to India and several others have 

 been introduced, and are now cultivated widely. Many ar of consider- 

 able economic value, one an important vegetable, and another produces 

 a fibre that is extensively used as a substitute both for hemp and jute. 



H. Abelmoschus, Linn. ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., iii., 178. The Musk Mallow, 

 mushk-dand, kalkastari, kasturi-bhendi, latd kasturikd, etc. A herbaceous bush, 

 common throughout the hotter parts of India. It yields a fibre which occupies 

 n high place among those of the jute type. The seeds afford an odorous principle 

 employed in perfumery as a substitute for musk. In European trade they 

 are known as OKM.VS D~AMHRKTTE. By the Natives of Northern India they are 

 employed medicinally. Their value varies from about 4d. to Is. per lb. [Cf. 

 Pharmacog. Ind., 1890. i., 209-10; Agri. Ledg., 1896, No. 6, 29-31 ; 1898, No. 15, 

 505; Mukerji, Handbook Ind. Agri., 1901, 329-30; Schimmel & Co., Semi.- 

 Ann. Kept., Oct. 1902, 9.] 



H. flculneus, Linn. ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., iii., 28, 178. The ban dhenras, jangli 

 bhindi, kapasiya, dula, etc. A prickly herbaceous annual, indigenous in the 

 hotter parts of India, from the Panjab and Bengal to South India and Ceylon. 

 The stem yields a long, glossy, white and strong fibre, useful for twine and light 

 cordage. 



H. rosa-sinensis, Linn.; Woodrow, Man. of Gard., 1899, 179; Firminger, 

 Man. Gard. Ind. (ed. Cameron), 651 ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., ii., 40, 84 ; iii., 179. 

 The Shoe Flower, jdsut, juwa, joba, jdsavanda, etc. An ornamental shrub, 

 native of China, but found in most gardens in the plains of India. The bark 

 yields a fibre. The flowers are said to produce a purple dye, and are also used 

 in Native medicine. The roots are employed in Mysore in certain cattle diseases 

 (Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., 1892-3, vii., 512-5). 



H. Sabdariffa, Linn. ; Woodrow, I.e. 183 ; Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., ii., 40, 84 ; 

 iii.. -J8, 179 ; Firminger, I.e. 288. The Rozelle or Red Sorrel of the West Indies, 

 meeta, patwa, Idl ambdri, kempu, etc. A small elegant shrub, widely cultivated 

 throughout the hotter parts of India and Ceylon. The seeds are sown about the 

 end of May, and the plants put out in the ground at a distance of 4 feet- 

 from each other. The gathering may be made in November or December in 

 Bengal, but rather earlier in the upper provinces. It seems to thrive best in 

 the damp climate of Lower India and cannot be cultivated on the hills. 



The stems yield a strong, silky fibre, the Rozelle Hemp of commerce, obtained 

 by retting the twigs when in flower. The seeds are used in medicine, and have 

 demulcent, diuretic and tonic properties. The fruit, or rather fleshy calyx, is a 

 valuable antiscorbutic, largely eaten in the form of jellies, chutnies and other 

 preserves. The leaves are eaten as salad and in Native curries. [Cf. Pharmacog. 

 Ind., i., 212; Dodge, Useful Fibre Plants of the World, 1897, 196; Imp. Inst. Tech. 

 Repts., 1903, 96.] 



H. tiliaceus, Linn. ; Gamble, Man. Ind. Timba., 1902, 87 ; Rec. Bot. Surv. 

 Ind., ii., 177, '245, 247, etc. ; iii., 179. The bola, banid, belli-pata, chelwa, thinban, 

 etc. A small tree or bush of the sea-coast forests and long tidal rivers all round 

 India, Burma and Ceylon. It yields a fibre of fair quality, which can be readily 

 separated and does not easily rot under water. In Bengal it is used for making 

 rough ropes, in the Sundribans for cordage, and in Ceylon for mats. Gamble 

 remarks that it ought to be useful for paper. Manson (Ind. tor., 1905, xxxi., 

 347-50) gives an account of experiments which have recently been made in 

 Burma with this fibre as a jute substitute. He considers it would probably 

 fetch about 12 per ton, if sent to market in the condition that jute usually 



629 



D.E.P., 

 iv., 228-48. 



Musk 

 Mallow. 



Perfumery. 

 Prfa*. 



Fibre. 



Shoe 

 Flower. 



Fibre. 

 Dye. 



Rozelle. 



Fibre. 

 Medicine. 



Jelly. 



Fibre. 



Paper. 

 Jute 



