This species is very closely related to Corchorus capsularis

Common Name: Jew's Mallow

General Information

Corchorus olitorius is an erect, annual to short-lived perennial plant growing up to 3.5 metres tall. The plant is usually strongly branched[].
The plant is a very popular vegetable crop in many tropical countries, where it makes an excellent spinach substitute in areas with hot summers. The plant is also the source of an excellent fibre. It is often cultivated in the tropics and warm temperate areas both for the fibre in its stem and also for its edible leaves[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Probably originating in Africa, though possibly in India and Myanmar, the plant is widely grown through much of the tropics.

Habitat

Original habitat is obscure.

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Corchorus olitorius grows well in the lowland tropics, up to an elevation of around 700 metres[]. The plant is reported to tolerate a mean annual precipitation between 400 and 4290mm, an annual average temperature range of 16.8 to 27.5°c[].
Prefers a very fertile, humus-rich, well-drained alluvial soil, though it is extremely tolerant of soil conditions[, ]. It grows best in a hot humid climate[]. Tolerates very wet conditions according to one report[] whilst another says that it does not tolerate waterlogged soils[]. Some cultivars are sensitive to excess water in the soil, especially when they are young[]. Tolerates a pH in the range of 4.5 to 8.2[].
There are two important cultivar-groups:-
Olitorius Group. These are the forms mainly grown for their edible leaves. They are characterized by a plant height lower than 2 metres, often not more than 1 metre, and a more or less heavily branched plant habit. There are many named forms within this group[].
Textilis Group. These are the forms mainly grown for their fibre. The plants are usually larger, up to 4 metres, perhaps even 5 metres tall, and only slightly branched at the top[].
The first harvest, by cutting shoots 20 - 30cm long, may take place 4 - 6 weeks after transplanting, at a height of 10 - 20cm above the ground. This cutting stimulates the development of side shoots. Subsequently, every 2 - 3 weeks, a cutting may take place, with a total of 2 - 8 cuttings possible[]. For a once-over harvest from a direct sown crop, the plants are uprooted or cut at ground level when they are 30 - 40cm tall, 3 - 5 weeks after emergence and before the development of fruits[].
In Nigeria, a yield of 20 - 25kg from a 10 square metre bed (25 tonnes per hectare) may be expected from 3 - 9 cuttings of 'Amugbadu' during a period of 3 - 4 months. A yield of 38 tonnes per hectare was obtained from a well-fertilized field of cultivar 'Ewondo' in the Cameroon. Farmers however, usually obtain average yields of 5 - 15 tonnes[].
The world average jute yield is about 1.9 tonnes of raw fibre per hectare, but yields of 5 tonnes have been obtained in Bangladesh with improved cultivars grown under optimal agronomic conditions[]. Intercropped with Vigna, jute has yielded 3,270 kilos compared to 2290 kilos when monocropped[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Young leaves are added to salads whilst older leaves are cooked as a pot-herb[, , ]. The leaves quickly become mucilaginous when cooked[]. High in protein[]. The dried leaves can be used as a thickener in soups[]. Leaves and young shoots are normally harvested when about 20 - 30cm long[].

A tea is made from the dried leaves[].

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

Medicinal

The leaves are demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge and tonic[]. They are used in the treatment of chronic cystitis, gonorrhoea and dysuria[]. A cold infusion is said to restore the appetite and strength[].

The seeds are purgative[].

Injections of olitoriside, an extract from the plant, markedly improve cardiac insufficiencies and have no cumulative attributes; hence, it can serve as a substitute for strophanthin[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the stems, it is the main source of jute[, , ] but is considered to be inferior to the fibre obtained from C. capsularis[]. The fibre is somewhat coarse and is used mainly for sackcloth etc[]. 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 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.