Kenaf

Kenaf [etymology: Persian], Hibiscus cannabinus, is a plant in the family Malvaceae also called Deccan hemp and Java jute. Hibiscus cannabinus is in the genus Hibiscus and is native to Africa, though its exact origin is unknown. The name also applies to the fibre obtained from this plant. Kenaf is one of the allied fibres of jute and shows similar characteristics. Europe: English: Deccan hemp, Java jute, wild stockrose French: chanvre de Bombay, chanvre du Deccan, chanvre de Guinée, chanvre de Gambo, chanvre de roselle, jute de Java, jute de Siam, kénaf, ketmie à feuilles de chanvre (Belgium), roselle German: Ambari, Dekkanhanf, Gambohanf, Hanfeibisch, Javajute, Kenaf, Rosellahanf, Roselle, Siamjute Portuguese: cânhamo rosella, juta-de-java, juta-do-sião, quenafe Spanish: cáñamo de la India, cáñamo de gambo, cáñamo Rosella, pavona encendida, yute de Java, yute de Siam Americas: Brazilian Portuguese: papoula-de-são-francisco, cânhamo-brasileiro, quenafe Africa: Afrikaans: stokroos Egypt & Northern Africa: til, teel, or teal تيل West Africa: dah, gambo, and rama Asia Himachal (Pangolu): sunn Lao: ປໍແກ້ວ pɔː kɛ̂ːw India (Manipur): Shougri India (Bihari): Kudrum India (Bengal): mesta India (Kannada): Pundi Palle India (Marathi): Ambaadi India (Tamil): pulicha keerai (புளிச்சைக் கீரை) Palungu (பலுஂகு) India (Telugu): Gongura, Taag-Ambadi, Puntikura Iran (Persian): Kanaf کنف Taiwan: ambari China: Hóng Má (红麻; red hemp); officially changed from Yáng Má (洋麻; foreign hemp) during the Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. Other names include Bimli, Ambary, Ambari Hemp, and Bimlipatum Jute. According to Miyake and Suzuta (1937), there are more than 129 names for kenaf worldwide. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant (rarely a short-lived perennial) growing to 1.5–3.5 m tall with a woody base. The stems are 1–2 cm diameter, often but not always branched. The leaves are 10–15 cm long and variable in shape; leaves near the base of the stems are deeply lobed (3 to 7 lobes) and leaves near the top of the stem are shallowly lobed or unlobed lanceolate.