HIBISCUS CANNABINUS, L., Dekhani hemp. Kudrum of . . BEHAR. Ambari, . . . DEER. Mesta pat, Nalki, BENG. Sankokla patsan, PANJ.
I'unday, Pundrica, CAN. Vatsan, Sunni of IP Hiang-ma, . . CHIN. Palungo, . . , TAM.
Peh-ma, Ye-ma, . ft Pulacha, . . .
Pula namaji, . . Conte. Ghongu kuru, . TEL.
Hibiscus cannabinus is an erect growing plant, to about 4 to 6 feet. It is slightly prickly over the stem. There is a dark, purplish - coloured species. Both are grown all over India for the acidulous leaves, and also for the fibres of its bark, called one of the hemps of India, which are used as cordage ; the cultivators sow a small quantity along the edges of the usual crops for their own use. In the beginning of the rains, and when it commences to flower, it is cut and treated exactly as the sunn hemp from Crotalaria juncea. The proportion of fibre is about half the weight of the plant. It is used for making rope, sackcloth, twine, japer, etc. The price of the prepared fibre is from 3 to 4 rupees per maund, according to its strength, length, and cleanliness. The fibre, like that of jute, is sometimes called Pat ; also, in Bombay, Dekhani hemp, to distinguish it from Taag or Konkani hemp; also Indian hemp. Also, it is one of the brown hemps of Bombay, and is often confounded with the fibre of sunn, though the two plants greatly differ,—the sunn, Crotalaria juncea, being known in Bombay as Taag. The length of the fibresof carefully cultivated Ambari is from 5 to 6 feet; they are of a paler brown than ordinary brown hemp of the Crotalaria juncea, harsher in feel, and stick more together ; but they are divisible into fine fibrils, possessed of considerable strength, well calculated for rope making, as also for coarse fabrics. Though
esteemed by some of the natives of Western India, the hemp of the H. cannabinus is not, either in strength or durability, so good as the true hemp of Europe, or as the Bunn or brown hemp of the Crotalaria juncea: The strength of this fibre was tested by several scientific men, and breaking weight found to be— Experiments of H. cannabinue. Crotalaria juncea.
Dr. Roxburgh, . . 110-115 lbs. 130-160 lbs.
Dr. 'toile, . . 150 „ 190 „ Dr. Wight, . . . 290 „ 404 „ The exports of this fibre are not distinguished from other hemps. An excellent substitute for tow might be profitably supplied from it. The rope made of the fibre is used in the Karnatic as a substitute for the jute of Bengal, the produce of Corchorus capsularis, a plant comparatively un known in the Peninsula. Dr. Riddell strongly recommended this fibre as a paper material.
M. Ex. Jur. Rep. ; Royle; Roxb.; Voiyt ; Stewart. HIBISCUS MUTABILIS. L.
Thalpadmo, . . BEND. I Gul-i-ajaib, . . HIND. Fu-yung, Mu-In-yang, CH.
The changeable rose is a large shrub, native of China, remarkable for the changes which occur in the colour of its flowers, bearing white flowers in the morning, but changing in the course of the day, and in the evening to red ; easily propagated by cuttings. The flowers and leaves are used in China medicinally, and its fibre is there made into cloth.—Drs. Roxb., Riddell, Mason, Stewart.