n 



Hibiscus Sabdariffa, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 204. 



III.— Cav. Diss. t. 198 f. 1 ; Bonpland, PI. Rar. Malm. t. 29 ; 

 Desc. Ant. i. t. 31 ; Herb. Amat. v. t. 296 ; Drapiez, Herb. Amat. 

 de Fleurs, v. t. 373 ; U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. 307, 1907, 

 f. 1. 



Vemac. names. — Tusure, Yakua (Hausa, Dalziel) ; Amukai or 

 Isepa (Yoruba, Higginson) ; Masha (Beri-beri, Bull. Imp. Inst. 

 1907, p. 329) ; Sour-sour (Sierra Leone, Haydori) ; Rozelle or Red 

 Sorrel (W. Indies). — Rozelle Hemp ; Indian Sorrel. 



Kontagora ; cultivated in Trop. Africa and most tropical 

 countries. 



The stems yield a strong silky fibre, resembling Jute, suitable 

 for gunny-bags, cordage, &c, and possibly for paper manufacture. 

 Cellulose percentage 72, staple from 6-7 feet, length of ultimate 

 fibre from 1*6 to 3*1 mm. (Tech. Rep. and Sci. Papei'3, Imp. Inst. 

 1903, p. 96). Preparation may be effected by ordinary retting 

 and washing. 



The leaves are used as a pot-herb for flavouring soup, &c, and 

 are commonly sold in the markets. The seeds are good food for 

 cattle (Mus. Kew), and are said to be aphrodisiac (Fl. Trop. Afr. i. 

 p. 204). The fleshy calyces are made into preserves, and a 

 refreshing beverage (Sorrel drink) may be made from them — 

 prepared by boiling with water until they become pulpy, 

 sweetening and spicing to taste. In the course of a day or so 

 the clear fluid is strained off and bottled, and is ready for use 

 after slight fermentation has occurred (Kew Bull. 1888, p. 203). 



The leaves, seeds and ripe calyces possess antiscorbutic and 

 other medicinal properties. 



An infusion of the leaves and calyces has been recommended, 

 amongst other agents of vegetable origin, as giving the best results 

 for the coagulation of the latex of Landolphia Heudelotii (War- 

 burg, PI. Caoutch. 1902, p. 242). 



An infusion of the leaves has also been recommended for the 

 coagulation of the latex of Landolphia owariensis (Haydon, Rep. 

 Bot. Stn. Sierra Leone, 1899). 



Propagation from seed ; the soil required is a rich sandy loam. 

 To grow for fruit (calyces) the plants should be allowed a distance 

 of about 4 feet ; a bushy habit should be induced by pinching out 

 the young tops occasionally. Plants come to maturity in about 

 three or four months. For use as a vegetable in salads, &c, the 

 leaves would be ready in about a month after germination. The 

 plant, although it may succeed best in a moist climate, is well 

 adapted to culture under irrigation, and would probably be 

 suitable for cultivation in parts of Northern Nigeria, where the 

 rainfall is uncertain and small. 



Cultivation for fibre is the same as for H. cannabinus, q.v. 



Ref. — Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind. iv. pp. 243-246, wiih chemical 

 analysis of the fleshv calyx.- — Descr. Cat. Useful Fib. PI. of the 

 World, Dodge, Rep. No. 9, 1897, p. 197, U.S. Dept. of Agric. 

 Fiber Investigations. — Tech. Rep. and Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, 

 pp. 96-97, with an analysis of the fibre. — " Rozelle, Culture and 



