Corchorus olitorius L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi Drive, Zambezi National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mazowe River, Maramba CL

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Indian jute (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust erect annual herb, up to 2 m tall. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, up to 10 × 5 cm, thinly textured, mostly hairless on both surfaces; margins crenate-serrate. Flowers in 2-3 flowered axillary clusters, yellow, c. 1.4 cm in diameter; sepals linear, pointed, as long as the petals. Fruit a 10-ribbed cylindric capsule, splitting into 5 valves, straight or slightly curved, more or less appressed to the stem, up to 8 cm long with a straight apical beak.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Mainly as a weed of disturbed and cultivated areas.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical. Cultivated in Asia for its "Jute" fibres.
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 16. As Corchorus olitorius olitorius Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 81. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 109. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 108. Wild, H. (1963). Tiliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 82 - 84. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Botswana: Corchorus olitorius
Flora of Burundi: Corchorus olitorius
Flora of Mozambique: Corchorus olitorius
Flora of Zambia: Corchorus olitorius
Flora of Zimbabwe: Corchorus olitorius

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Corchorus olitorius
African Plant Database: Corchorus olitorius
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Corchorus olitorius
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Corchorus olitorius
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Corchorus olitorius
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iNaturalist: Corchorus olitorius
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Corchorus olitorius
JSTOR Plant Science: Corchorus olitorius
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Corchorus olitorius
Plants of the World Online: Corchorus olitorius
Tropicos: Corchorus olitorius
Wikipedia: Corchorus olitorius