Urena lobata L.
Family
Malvaceae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia |
Pulut-pulut, pepulut, pulut lembu. |
| English | Congo jute, aramina fibre. |
| Indonesia | Pangpulutan (Sundanese), pulutan (Javanese), pulut (Sumatra). |
| Thailand | Khamong dong (Northern), po seng (Peninsular), khee khrok (Central). |
| Philippines | Dalupang (Tagalog, Panay Bisaya, Pampangan), kulotan (Tagalog, Bisaya), saligut (Bontok). |
| Vietnam | B[as]I l[uw][ow]ng, k[es] hoa d[af]o. |
| Papua New Guinea | Haritapiraba (Uaripi, Gulf Province), kotokoto (Pokama, Central Province), Bitobito (Oroi, Central Province). |
Geographical Distributions
Urena lobata is widely distributed as a weed in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres including Southeast Asia.
Description
U. lobata is an annual, variable, erect, ascendent under shrub and measuring up to 0.5-2.5 m tall. The stems are covered with minute star-like hairs, scattered simple hairs and are often tinged purple.
The leaves arrangement are alternate, simple, extremely variable in size and shape, partially flat with circular outline, oblong to lance-shaped that is measure 1-12 cm x 0.5-13 cm. The leaves have more or less 3-5-lobed which are heart-shaped to wedge-shaped at the base. The apex is acuminate while the margins are serrate to crenate with 3-9-veined. The surfaces are hairy with a modified epidermal cells that secrets nectar on base of midrib beneath. The petiole is measures 0.5-12 cm long. The stipules are lance-shaped to reverse egg-shaped. They measure at 2-4 mm long, acute and caduceus.
The inflorescence arises from the axils, solitary or in clusters of 2-3 cm. The bell-shaped flowers are 5-merous, 2-3 cm in diametre, pink with a purple centre, 7-8 mm long epicalyx which envelopes the sepal ,and have 5 segments that are lance-shaped and hairy. The sepal is tubular to bell-shaped measuring 5-6 mm x 1.5-2 mm. At 1/3 from the base of the ribs, it is thickened or with a modified epidermal secreting nectar. The petals are reverse egg-shaped and the apex is rounded. The male reproduction organ column measures 10-14 mm long, usually curved; the anthers are purple and pollen is white. The style arms are 10; each one is 1 mm long. The stigmas are dark purple.
The fruit is partially spherical schizocarp and composed of 5 parts of 4-5 mm long fruits. Barbed bristles cover them. The 2.5-3.5 mm long seed is kidney-shaped, minutely hairy to hairless and brown. The seedling is with above the ground germination.
Ecology / Cultivation
U. lobata is common on roadsides, in waste places, fallow fields, plantations, secondary growths, teak forests, from sea level up to 2000 m altitude, in many locations naturalised as a noxious weed.
Line Drawing / Photograph
Read More
1) Safety
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
