Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

In traditional herbal medicine the bark is said to be emmenagogue [Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants]. A paste of the bark is used to treat wounds and cuts, with new paste being applied every 2 - 3 days for about 3 weeks. In Nepal the root juice is warmed and applied to sprains. The juice of the flowers is used to treat chronic bronchitis and toothache[Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon].
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Other use

The leaves are high in vitamins A and C, and iron, and have 2% protein by dry weight. Young leaves can be used as a lettuce substitute.
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Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, China, China North-Central
  • Asia-Temperate, China, China South-Central
  • Asia-Temperate, China, China Southeast
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Assam
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, East Himalaya
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, India
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Nepal
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, West Himalaya
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Laos
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Laos
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Myanmar
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Thailand
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Vietnam
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Christmas I.
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Jawa
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Maluku
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Philippines
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Sulawesi
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Sumatera
  • Asia-Tropical, Papuasia, Bismarck Archipelago
  • Asia-Tropical, Papuasia, New Guinea

Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik

Family: MALVACEAE
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species: manihot (L.) Medik
Common names: Aibika
Distribution summary: Tropical Asia to NE. Australia
Habit: Sub-Shrub
Hardiness: H1c - Heated greenhouse; warm temperate
Habitat: Wasteland and humid rocky hillsides, near streams
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: seed waiting to be sown or germinating in greenhouse or frame (seed)
Flowering months: July, August, September
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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