Urena lobata aka Hibiscus Burr

Urena lobata is a shrub in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its names include bur mallow, Congo jute, and Indian mallow. Kew places its native range across the tropics and subtropics. It grows in seasonally dry tropical regions. It now occurs widely as a weed in warm climates. Plants grow along roads, on unused ground, and in plantations. They also grow in fields left fallow and in woodland regrowth.

This fast-growing shrub spreads and forms many branches. The reference lists a height of about 10 feet [3 metres]. Taller plants can reach 13–16 feet [4–5 metres]. Growers also raise it as an annual in cooler places. These plants reach about 1.6–8.2 feet [0.5–2.5 metres]. Close spacing limits the number of branches they form. Its woody stems provide fibre, while its young leaves provide food.

Short days help trigger flowering in this species. Flowers appear four to six months after sowing. The timing varies with the date the seed was sown. Most viable seed forms one to two months after flowering. Hairs cover the seed capsules and catch on clothes and fur. People and animals can thus move seeds to new sites. This spread has helped it become invasive in many regions. Its weed risk matters when choosing where to grow it.

Give the plant full sun and soil that drains well. It favours soil rich in humus, with a medium texture. It can also grow in a wider range of soils. Its preferred soil pH is 5.5–6.5, though it tolerates 4.5–8. It grows best where annual temperature means fall within 21–27°C. The source also reports tolerance of 18–32°C. It favours annual rainfall of 700–1,200 millimetres but tolerates a much wider range. Scratching the seed coat before sowing helps seeds sprout sooner and more reliably.

People cook the young leaves as a vegetable. They add seeds to porridge and stews, where they give a thick texture. The source reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. Leaves and roots have many uses in traditional medicine. These reports do not establish that the treatments work. One preparation has a reported use to induce abortion. Stem fibre supplies rope, sacks, coarse cloth, hammocks, and paper. Seeds also have a reported use in soap making.