Malvaceae FAMILY

Hibiscus bifurcatus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Hibiscus bifurcatus is a shrub growing 2 - 5 metres tall with rather weak, straggling branches[ 426 Title Flowering Plants of Jamaica Publication Author Adams. C.D. Publisher University of the West Indies; Jamaica. Year 1972 ISBN Description A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible leaves and medicinal applications.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, north through Central America to Mexico.

HabitatSwamps in forests[ 426 Title Flowering Plants of Jamaica Publication Author Adams. C.D. Publisher University of the West Indies; Jamaica. Year 1972 ISBN Description A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc. ]. Mostly in open swamps or marshes, often along or near the seashore; at elevations up to 1,400 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].