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Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik.

Family Name:	Malvaceae
Synonyms:	Hibiscus manihot
Common Name:	Sunset Hibiscus, Aibika, 黄蜀葵

The Sunset Hibiscus (Abelmoschus manihot) is an annual shrub that has big light yellow flowers with maroon to purple central eye and leaves of palmate-shaped leaves. This ornamental species flowers best under full sun.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Annual

Shrub

Name

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Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
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Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
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Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Annual, Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	1 m to 1.8 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	0.9 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Indian Subcontinent, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malesia, Papuasia, North-Central to South-Central to southeastern China.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	Shrub with woody stem that grows up to 1.8 m tall and 0.9 m wide.
Roots	Usually adventitious and fairly shallow.
Foliage	The leaves are large, 15-30 cm in diameter, palmate-shaped with 5-9 lobes. The lobes are oblong to lanceolate shaped and sometimes pinnately lobed, measuring 8-18 cm long and 1-6 cm wide. The petiole is 6-18 cm long, stipules linear-lanceolate, sometimes there are 2 on each side of petiole, measuring 1-1.5 cm long. Leaf margin is obtusely serrated.

Stems	Erect, woody, branching and pubescent.
Flowers	Flowers are solitary or terminal racemes. Each flower is large, bell-shaped, about 12 cm in diameter. The petals are pale yellow with maroon to purple central spot.
Fruit	Oblong-ovoid capsule, hairy, usually 5 angled and splitting in 5 segments. The fruit measurement is approximately 4.5 by 2.5 cm.
Habitat	Found growing in grasslands, streamsides, and farm margins, at 1000 - 2100 m altitude.
Cultivation	Plant grows via seed or stem cuttings. Plant grows slowly during the first 2 - 3 months. When the harvesting started, it requires regular removal of the growing tips to encourage branching and compact bushy growth, and delay flowering.
Etymology	The genus Abelmoschus is believed to come from the Arabic terminology which means "source of musk", with reference to the musky smell of fruit capsules. The specific epithet manihot refers to the genus Manihot.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The young leaves and stem tips are cooked as green vegetables in Melanesia region, especially the eastern parts of Indonesian and Papua New Guinea <2>. Medicinal: <a>Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties</b> Based on research on the effect of this species on animals, it has these medicinal properties: antidiabetic nephropathy activity <5>, anti-inflammatory <3> and anti-depressant <1>. <b>Traditional Medicinal Uses</b> In India, the flowers are used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and toothache <4>. It is important to note that soem therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	The shrub can be grown as an annual or perennial in small gardens and parks for its ornamental yellow flowers and foliage.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	General, Small Gardens, Container Planting

Thematic Landscaping

Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Potential Problems	The species is closely related to Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and thus susceptible to similar pests and diseases.
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting
Propagation Ease	Moderate
Propagation Method Remarks	The seed has a very hard coat and therefore needs to be knicked for quicker germination.
Seed / Spore Germination Duration	7 days

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green, Green - Light Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Hairy / Hirsute

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green, Green - Light Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Hairy / Hirsute
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate)
Foliar Venation	Palmate
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed, Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid, Palmately Lobed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden
Flower Texture(s)	Thin

Flower Grouping	Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Bowl-shaped, Saucer-shaped, Campaulate / Bell-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Raceme
Flowering Period	Free-Flowering
Flower Size	12 cm x 12 cm

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Green
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Hairy / Hirsute
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule
Mature Seed Colour(s)	Black
Mature Seed Texture(s)	Hairy / Hirsute
Seed Description	Seeds are reniform, and has several lines of hairs.
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Numerous (>20)

References

References	<1> Guo, J., Xue, C., Duan, J.A., Qian, D., Tang, Y., You, Y. (2011). Anticonvulsant, antidepressant-like activity of Abelmoschus manihot ethanol extract and its potential active components in vivo. Phytomedicine. 18(14):1250-4. <2> Gurnah, A.M. (1993). Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medikus. In Siemonsma, J.S and Piluek, K (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8: Vegetables. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. <3> Jain, P.S., Bari, S.B. (2010). Evaluation of wound healing effect of Abelmoschus manihot in rats. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 20(5):756-61. <4> Todarwal, A., Jain, P., Bari, S. (2011). Abelmoschus manihot Linn: ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines. 6(1):1-7. <5> Tu, Y., Sun, W., Wan, Y.G., Che, X.Y., Pu, H.P., Yin, X.J, et al. (2013). Huangkui capsule, an extract from Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medic, ameliorates adriamycin-induced renal inflammation and glomerular injury via inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway activity in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 147:311-320.

References

<1> Guo, J., Xue, C., Duan, J.A., Qian, D., Tang, Y., You, Y. (2011). Anticonvulsant, antidepressant-like activity of Abelmoschus manihot ethanol extract and its potential active components in vivo. Phytomedicine. 18(14):1250-4.

<2> Gurnah, A.M. (1993). Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medikus. In Siemonsma, J.S and Piluek, K (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8: Vegetables. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia.

<3> Jain, P.S., Bari, S.B. (2010). Evaluation of wound healing effect of Abelmoschus manihot in rats. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 20(5):756-61.

<4> Todarwal, A., Jain, P., Bari, S. (2011). Abelmoschus manihot Linn: ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Asian Journal of Traditional Medicines. 6(1):1-7.

<5> Tu, Y., Sun, W., Wan, Y.G., Che, X.Y., Pu, H.P., Yin, X.J, et al. (2013). Huangkui capsule, an extract from Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medic, ameliorates adriamycin-induced renal inflammation and glomerular injury via inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway activity in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 147:311-320.

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Master ID	31416
Species ID	5813
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.