Roselle, Rosella

Where does Roselle grow?

Found in: Africa, Amazon, Andamans, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Equatorial-Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 220 Hibiscus species. Chemical composition (calyx): Protein (crude) = 10.9% (dry). Fat = 1.1% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 10.7% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 11.5% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 2.8% (dry). Sucrose = Ø %. D-glucose = 3.5% (dry). D-fructose = 0.9% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 39.0g. Threonine = 1.8g. Serine = 2.0g. Glutamic acid = 6.9g. Proline = 3.9g. Glycine = 2.4g. Alanine = 2.4g. Valine = 2.4g. Cysteine = 0.3g. Methionine = 0.7g. Isoleucine = 2.0g. Leucine = 3.0g. Tyrosine = 1.1g. Lysine = 2.6g. Phenylalanine = 1.7g. Lysine = 2.6g. Histidine = 1.5g. Arginine = 2.5g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.13% (dry). Potassium = 0.13% (dry). Magnesium = 0.33% (dry). Calcium = 1.29% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 2.53% (dry). Zinc = 41 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 97 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 416 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 5 mg/kg-1 (dry). Aluminium = 66 mg/kg-1 (dry).

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The leaves and flowers are sold in markets in India. In Papua New Guinea, not common except in areas where people have been encouraged to grow it. eg Sepik.Leaves are sold in local markets. They are commonly eaten in Senegal.

Growing Roselle, Rosella

Cultivation: Seeds are sown and the seedlings can be transplanted. They are transplanted when 15-20 cm high. Seed should be planted 1-2.5 cm deep. A spacing of 50 cm x 50 cm is suitable although a wider spacing is used for fruit and a closer one for leaves. Plants can be propagated by cuttings.

Edible Uses: The swollen bases of the flowers are used for jams or drinks. The young leaves can be cooked and eaten. They can also be dried and used later. The flowers can be used to flavour drinks. The seeds can be eaten. They can be dried and ground. They can be pressed for oil. They are also fermented. The dried ground seeds are used for coffee.

Production: Fruit are ready 12-15 weeks after sowing. The bracts are picked 15-20 days after flowering. They can produce about 1 kg per plant. The yield of leaves can be 10 tons per hectare. Young leaves are plucked from the plant.

Nutrition Info

Roselle, Rosella Photos

References

Roselle references Hibiscus sabdariffa

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