This species is very closely related to Corchorus olitorius.

Common Name: Jute

General Information

Corchorus capsularis is an erect, annual to perennial plant. The straight, slender stems can be 3 - 4 metres tall in cultivation[].
The plant is sometimes cultivated in warm temperate to tropical areas for the fibre in its stem and also for its edible leaves[]. It makes an excellent spinach substitute in areas with hot summers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India

Habitat

Original habitat is obscure.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	3.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Corchorus capsularis is a plant of the moist tropics, though it can also be cultivated in the subtropics and warmer temperate areas. In the tropics it is found at elevations up to 2,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 37°c, but can tolerate 13 - 45°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 900 - 3,600mm[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Prefers a very fertile soil and a hot humid climate[]. Young plants are sensitive to waterlogging, but more mature plants can tolerate very wet conditions, even inundation of the soil[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8.6[].
Grown as an annual, the stems can be harvested for fibre 80-150 days after sowing, depending on variety[].
Yields may be about 34 tonnes/ha of green plants giving 2 tonnes/ha of dry retted fibre[].
The plant is often grown on areas that are inundated every year and enriched by deposits418].
A short-day plant but longer days prolong the vegetative phase and it is therefore normally sown when the day-length exceeds 12.5 hours[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. Young leaves are added to salads whilst older leaves are cooked as a pot-herb[, , ]. High in protein. The dried leaves can be used as a thickener in soups[].

A tea is made from the dried leaves[].

Immature fruits are added to salads or used as a potherb.

Medicinal

The leaves are appetizer, carminative, demulcent, laxative, stimulant and stomachic[, ]. An infusion is used in the treatment of dysentery, fevers, dyspepsia and liver disorders[].

A decoction of the roots and unripe fruits is used in the treatment of dysentery[].

The seeds contain a substance that has a similar action on the heart to digitalin (from Digitalis spp.), but less intense in its action[].

Other Uses

A valuable fibre is obtained from the stems, it is the main source of jute[, , , ]. Of remarkable strength[]. The fibre is somewhat coarse and is used mainly for sackcloth etc[, ]. The fibre is used for making gunny bags, ropes, carpets, rugs, rough cloth and many other similar articles of daily use[]. The stems are harvested when the plant is in flower and are then retted (allowed to begin to rot) so that the fibre can be extracted[]. This species tends to branch making fibre extraction more difficult[]. Growing the plants very close together will prevent some of the branching. If used in making paper, the fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then ball milled for 4½ hours. The paper is grey/buff[].

The pith, left after the fibre has been extracted, is used in the paper industry and in preparation of alcohol[].

The very light and soft wood is used in making sulphur matches[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring, after the last expected frosts[].
In areas with hot summers it should be possible to sow the seed in situ in mid spring.