MORTON: THE ROSELLE 415 nurseries, and some do so. Others transfer to of the world, is vital to human health and perhaps 4-year institutions to finish their studies, or they even to human survival. The existing human re switch to an allied field, e.g., Environmental sources and technical facilities of Florida's south Studies, at Florida International University, a new eastern coast, combined with the natural subtrop and growing part of the State University System ical environment here, equip this Research Cres at Miami. cent to assume a major role in the United States' tropical research program. Enough necessary work waits in the Research Crescent to keep every qual Discussion and Conclusion ified person busy forthe forseeable future. Research in agriculture and allied fields has supported United States pre-eminence in food Literature Cited production and, correlatively, in world affairs for 1. Burditt, A. K., Jr., Soderholm, P. K., Spalding, D. H., and Knight, R. J., Jr. 1973. Seventy-five years of USDA many years. Hybrid corn, a product of genetics research at Miami. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 86:303-308. research begun in the northeastern United States 2. Campbell, C. W., and Malo, S. E. 1968. Three decades of tropical fruit improvement in Florida. Fla. A.E.S. Sun early in this century, helped win World War II. shine State Agr. Research Report 13(1): 39-40. 3. Rhodes, A. M., Campbell, C. W., Malo, S. E., and The rust-resistant and cold-hardy winter wheats, Carmer, S. G. 1970. A numerical taxonomic study of the products of plant introduction and agricultural re mango Mangifera indica L. J. Amer. Soc, Hort. Scu 95(2): 252-256. search, have fed the hungry of this nation and our 4. Smiley, N. 1960. The Fairchild tropical garden. Amer. Hort. Magazine 39(1): 1-13. friends in war and peace. 5. Teas, H. J., Leigh, W. H., et al. 1970. Tropical studies Continuing research in food and fiber produc at the University of Miami.U. of Miami, Coral Gables. 24 p. 6. Wait, L. H. 1948. Fairchild tropical garden—the first tion, particularly in tropical and subtropical parts ten years. Ronald Press, New York. 381 p.

RENEWED INTEREST IN ROSELLE (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.)r THE LONG-FORGOTTEN "FLORIDA CRANBERRY"

Julia F. Morton often seen in native markets and these can be utilized as well as the fresh for cold drinks and Morton Collectanea, University of Miami jelly. In temperate regions where the fruits do Coral Gables not mature, the stems and leaves are utilized. Roselle seeds are edible and yield oil, and the Abstract. Roselle was once commonly growivin residue, serves as feed for chickens and cattle. central and southern Florida for its fleshy, red, ~l$L..salydariffa var. altissima is grown for its fiber. acid calyces, used for making cranberry-like sauce, jelly and other preserves, desserts and The genus Hibiscus, of the family Malvaceae, wine. The plant has been nearly extinct in this embraces 200 or more speciesV'mainly tropical and state since the mid-1950's, its common name has subtropical, ranging in form from herbs and sub- been applied to related but dissimilar species, shrubs to the large timber treej Hi elatus Sw.—the and seeds have been difficult to obtain. There was -blue mahoe of Cuba and Jamaica. Most important a brief flurry of requests for seed and informa as a food plant is okra, H. esculentus L. The most tion during the coal-tar-dye alarms of 1959 and widely admired member of the genus is the Chinese 1960. Today, there is a stronger resurgence of hibiscus, H. rosa-sinensis L., a woody shrub or interest on the part of food and beverage manu small tree of which numerous cultivars and hybrids facturers who anticipate further F&DA restric are among the most popular flowering plants of the tions on synthetic red colorants. Also, rising food warm climates of the world. costs and the trend toward "natural" foods and A minor ornamental in Florida and elsewhere revival of home-gardening, have created a new is the red-leaf hibiscus, H. eetveldeanus Wildem. demand for roselle and the seeds are again of & Th. Dur. (syn. H. acetosella Welw.) of tropical fered by dealers in rare plant materials. Africa which has red stems to 8 ft. high, 5-lobed, Throughout the tropics, the dried calyces are red or bronze leaves, and mauve, or red-striped 416 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1974 yellow, flowers with a dark-red eye, succeeded by a erect, sparsely-branched annual to 16 ft. high, hairy seed pod enclosed in a red, ribbed calyx bear which is cultivated for its jute-like fiber in India, ing a basal fringe of slender, forked bracts. This the East Indies, Nigeria and to some extent in plant has been often confused with roselle, though Tropical America. The stems of this variety are its calyx is not fleshy and only the young leaves green or red and the leaves are green, sometimes are used for culinary purposes—usually cooked with red veins. Its flowers are yellow and calyces with rice or vegetables because of their acid flavor. red or green, non-fleshy, fibrous, spiny and not used True roselle is H. sabdariffa L., of which there for food. This type at times has been confused are two main types. The more important econom with kenaf, H. cannabinus L., a somewhat similar ically is H. sabdariffa var. altissima Wester, an but more widely exploited fiber source.

Figr. 1. Red-leaf hibiscus (Hibiscus eetveldeanus), often mistaken for roselle. Photo by Julia Morton MORTON: THE ROSELLE 417

The other distinct type of roselle, H. sabdariffa The calyx, stems and leaves are acid and closely var. sabdariffa, embraces shorter, bushy forms resemble the cranberry in flavor (66). which have been described as races: bhagalpurien- sis, intermedius, albus, and ruber, all breeding Origin and Distribution true from seed (4). The first has green, red- streaked, inedible calyces; the second and third Roselle is native from India to Malaysia, where have yellow-green edible calyces and also yield it is commonly cultivated (4, 8, 10, 20), and must fiber (15). The subject of this paper is primarily have been carried at an early date to Africa (3). the race ruber and its named cultivars with edible It has been widely distributed in the tropics and calyces; secondarily the green-fruited strains which subtropics of both hemispheres and in many areas have similar uses and which may belong to race of the West Indies and Central America has be albus. come naturalized (9, 23, 47, 54). Vernacular names in addition to roselle in The Flemish botanist, M. de L'Obel, published English-speaking regions are rozelle, sorrel, red his observations of the plant in 1576, and the edi sorrel, Jamaica sorrel, Indian sorrel, Guinea sorrel, bility of the leaves was recorded in Java in 1687 sour-sour, Queensland Jelly plant (65), jelly okra, (15). Seeds are said to have been brought to the lemon bush (18), or Florida cranberry; in French, New World by African slaves (57). Roselle was oseille rouge, or oseille de Guinee (42); in Spanish, grown in Brazil in the 17th century and in Ja quimbombo chino, sereni (48), rosa de Jamaica, maica in 1707 (44). The plant was being cul flor de Jamaica, Jamaica, agria (33, 35), agrio tivated for food use in Guatemala before 1840 de Guinea (54), quetmia acida (29), vina and (57). J. N. Rose, in 1899, saw large baskets of vinuela; in Portuguese, vinagreira, azeda de Guine, dried calyces in the markets of Guadaljara, Mex cururu azedo, and quiabeiro azedo (27); and in ico (50). Dutch (Surinam), zuring (41). In North Africa In 1892, there were two factories producing and the Near East, roselle is called karkade (6) or roselle jam in Queensland, Australia, and exporting carcade (21) and it is known by these names in considerable quantities to Europe (62). This was the pharmaceutical and food flavoring trades in a short-lived enterprise. In 1909, there were no Europe (21). In Senegal, the common name is more than 4 acres of edible roselle in Queensland bisap. (15). A Mr. Neustadt of San Francisco imported seed from Australia about 1895 and shared it with

Description the California state agricultural experiment sta tion for test plantings and subsequent seed distri H. sabdariffa var. sabdariffa race ruber is an bution (62). It was probably about the same time annual, erect, bushy, herbaceous subshrub to 8 ft. that Australian seeds reached Hawaii. In 1904, the tall (31) with smooth or nearly smooth, cylindrical, Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station re typically red stems. The leaves are alternate, 3 to ceived seeds from Puerto Rico (16). In 1913 there 5 in. long, green with reddish veins and long or was much interest in interplanting roselle with short petioles. Leaves of young seedlings (62) and Ceara rubber (Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg.) on upper leaves of older plants are simple; lower the island of Maui (63) and there were some leaves are deeply 3- to 5- or even 7-lobed; the plantations established also on the island of Ha margins are toothed. Flowers, borne singly in the waii, altogether totaling over 200 acres. The leaf axils, are up to 5 in. wide, yellow or buff with anticipated jelly industry failed to materialize a rose (1) or maroon eye, and turn pink as they (16) and promotional efforts were abandoned by wither at the end of the day (15, 57, 62). At this 1929 (43). time, the typically red calyx, consisting of 5 large P. J. Wester believed that roselle was brought sepals with a collar (epicalyx) of 8 to 12 slim, to Florida from Jamaica about 1887 (62). Plants pointed bracts (or bracteoles) around the base, were grown by Dr. H. J. Webber at the U. S. De begins to enlarge, becomes fleshy, crisp but juicy, partment of Agriculture's Subtropical Laboratory l*/i to 2*4 in. long, and fully encloses the velvety at Eustis, Florida, in the early 1890's but all the capsule, V2 to % in. long (47) which is green when roselle was killed there by a severe freeze in 1895 immature, 5-valved, with each valve containing 3 (62). Cook and Collins reported that roselle was to 4 kidney-shaped, light-brown seeds, 1/8 to 3/16 commonly cultivated in southern Florida in 1903 in. long and minutely downy (47). The capsule (14). In 1904, Wester acquired seeds from Mr. turns brown and splits open when mature and dry. W. A. Hobbs of Coconut Grove and planted them 418 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1974 at the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Sub cultural Review in 1920, he declared: "No plant tropical Garden in Miami. He was enthusiastic that has ever been brought into the Philippines is about roselle's potential as a southern substitute more at home and few grow with so little care as for the cranberry and authored the 16-page Farm the roselle, or are so productive. Still, like so er's Bulletin, Roselle: Its Culture and Uses, in many other new introductions, the roselle has been 1907. At that time, he stated that the fresh calyces slow to gain hold in the popular taste though here were being sold by the quart in South Florida mar and there it is now found in the provincial mar kets (62). He introduced three edible cultivars kets'' (63). into the Philippines in 1905 (10) and, in his In 1928, Paul C. Standley wrote: "roselle . . . lengthy, illustrated article in the Philippine Agri is grown in large quantities in Panama, especially

Fig. 2. True roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa race rubber), the red calyx of which was long know as the "Florida cranberry". Photo by Julia Morton MORTON: THE ROSELLE 419 by the West Indians. So much of the plant is seen eries in Bradenton currently sells plants in con in the markets and on the roads that one would tainers and gives to purchasers a sheet of recipes. think the market oversupplied" (55). From Lawrence Adams of Arcadia, I obtained Roselle became and remained a common home seeds (25 for $1) which came from the Virgin garden crop throughout southern and central Flor Islands where this particular strain is said to ida until after World War II when this area began mature its fruit a month early. These seeds and to develop rapidly and home gardening and pre seeds purchased by John G. DuPuis, Jr., from serving declined. In 1954, roselle was still being Brudy were planted at DuPuis' Bar D Ranch in grown by individuals in the Midwest for its edible Martin County. At this writing (Nov. 4), the herbage (65). By 1959 and 1960, when there was plants from Brudy seeds, planted in April, are widespread alarm concerning coal-tar food dyes, it 8 ft. high and beginning to bloom and set fruit. was easy to arouse interst in roselle as a coloring The Adams seeds, planted in early July, have source but difficult to obtain seeds in Florida. At yielded plants now only 2^ ft. high but neverthe that time, I purchased them from Gleckler's Seeds less blooming and fruiting. men in Metamora, Ohio—40 seeds for 25^; ^4 oz. At last, roselle is again being appreciated in for $1.25. Roselle had by then become nearly ex Florida as a home-garden crop and is attracting tinct in Puerto Rico also, for, in 1959, food tech the attention of food and beverage manufacturers nologists from the University of Puerto Rico's who feel it may have exploitable possibilities as a laboratory in Rio Piedras approached me for seeds natural food product and as a colorant to replace in the hope of using the red juice of the calyx to some synthetic dyes. Even so, we are somewhat color guava wine (53). behind some other roselle-growing regions. In Mrs. Edith Trebell of Estero, Florida, was one 1962, Sharaf referred to the cultivation of roselle of the last remaining suppliers of roselle jelly. In as "recent" in Egypt, where interest is centered February, 1961, I purchased the last two jars made more on its pharmaceutical than its food potential from the small crop salvaged following the 1960 (51). In 1971, it was reported that roselle calyces, hurricane and before frost killed all her plants. In produced and dried in Senegal (particularly around late 1961, I was able to obtain a few seeds from Bambey), were being shipped to Europe (Ger Mrs. Henry Hildebrandt of Sarasota, Florida, an many, Switzerland, France and Italy) at the rate oldtime roselle enthusiast. But, in 1969, the seeds of 10 to 25 tons annually (6). I ordered from the sole roselle advertiser in the Florida Market Bulletin (Mrs. Opal Lilly, Flora- Cultivars home, Putnam County) produced plants with spectacular, deep-purple flowers, 5 in. wide, and In 1920, Wester described three named, edible spiny, non-fleshy calyces. Dr. Sam McFadden sug roselle cultivars as being grown at that time in the gests the so-called "roselle" may have been H. Philippines: radiatus Cav. My disappointment was intensified 'Rico' (named in 1912): Plant relatively low- by finding a product labeled "Imitation Roselle growing, spreading, with simple leaves borne over Jelly" on sale in a Stuckey's restaurant on Planta a longer period and the lobed leaves mostly 3- tion Key. parted. Flower has dark-red eye and golden-yellow In December, 1971, Horticulturist Edilberto pollen. Mature calyx 1% to 2 in. long and 1-1/8 to Camacho sent me some seeds from Costa Rica—the l1^ in. wide; bracts plump and stiffly horizontal. product of plants raised from seed he collected in Highest yielder of calyces per plant. Juice and Cali, Colombia—and these I shared with Laymond preserves of calyx and herbage rich-red. Hardy who was also searching far and wide for 'Victor': A superior selection from seedlings roselle seeds to plant in California. In 1973, I in grown at the Subtropical Garden in Miami in serted a "roselle wanted" ad in the Florida Market 1906. Plant taller (to 7 ft.), more erect and ro Bulletin. There was one response, from Lake bust. Flower has dark-red eye and golden-brown Worth, but no seeds acquired. My order was re pollen (63). It blooms somewhat earlier than turned marked "addressee unknown". 'Rico' (10). Calyces as long as those of Rico but Last spring, it was a great pleasure to see slenderer and more pointed at apex; bracts longer, roselle featured in the catalog of John Brudy's slenderer and curved upward. Juice and preserves Rare Plant House, Cocoa Beach, and to find seeds of calyx and herbage rich-red. once again offered in the Market Bulletin. And I 'Archer' (sometimes called "white sorrel" am happy to know that Reasoner's Tropical Nurs (36)) resulted from seed sent to Wester by A. S. 420 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1974

Archer of the island of Antigua. It is believed to is grown throughout Senegal, but especially in the be of the race albus (15). Edward Long referred Cape Vert region, mainly for use as a vegetable to "white" as well as red roselle as being grown (6). in most gardens of Jamaica in 1774 (58). Plant Another roselle selection which originated in is as tall and robust as Victor but has green stems. 1914 (15) at the Lamao experiment station and Flower is yellow with deeper yellow eye and pale- was named 'Temprano' because of its early flow brown pollen. Calyx is green or greenish-white and ering, Wester reported as no longer grown, the smaller than in the two preceding, but the yield plant being less robust and less productive than per plant is much greater. Juice and other products the others. (63). are nearly colorless to amber. Green-fruited roselle A strain with dark-red, plump but stubby

Fig. 3. Sauce and jelly made from roselle calyces with seed capsules removed look and taste like products made of cran berries. Photo by Julia Morton MORTON: THE ROSELLE 421- calyces (the sepals scarcely longer than the seed mercial fertilizer of the formula 4-6-7 has proved capsule) is grown in the Bahamas (32). satisfactory (15). Weeding is necessary at first, but after the plants reach W2 to 2 ft. in height, weeds will be Requirements, Propagation and Culture shaded out and no longer a problem (49). Early Roselle is very sensitive to frost (49). It suc pruning will increase branching and development ceeds best in tropical and subtropical regions from of more flowering shoots (7). The flowers are self- sea level up to 3,000 ft. with a rainfall of about pollinated (44). 72 in. during its growing season. Where rainfall is inadequate, irrigation has given good results Pests and Diseases (63). It can be grown as a summer crop in tem perate regions but the fruits will not ripen (65). Roselle's major enemy is the root-knot nema- While deep, fairly fertile sandy loam (49) is pre tode, Heterodera radicicola (62). Mealy bugs may ferable, roselle grew and produced well over many be very troublesome. In Australia, three beetles, years in the oolitic limestone of Dade County. Nisotra breweri Jarv., Lagris cyanea Macl. and Wester observed that the high pine lands were far Rhyparida discopunctulata Lea, attack the leaves more suitable than low-lying muck and prairie (63). The "white" roselle has been found heavily (62). The plants tended to reseed themselves and infested with the cocoa beetle, Steirastoma breve on some properties they spread so extensively they Sulzer, in Trinidad, with a lighter infestation of became a nuisance and were eradicated (53). the red roselle in an intermixed planting (26). Roselle is usually propagated by seed but grows Occasional minor pests are scales, Coccus hesper- readily from cuttings (49). The latter method re idum and Hemichionaspis aspidistrae, on stems sults in shorter plants preferred in India for inter- and branches; yellow aphid, Aphis gossypii, on planting with tree crops but the yield of calyces is leaves and flower buds; and the cotton stainer, relatively low (4). Dysdercus suturellus, on ripening calyces (62). Seedlings may be raised in nursery beds and In Florida, mildew (Oidium) may require con transplanted when 3 to 4 in. high, but seeds are trol. Late in the season, leaves on some Philippine usually set directly in the field, 4 to 6 to a hill, plants have appeared soft and shriveled; and the hills 3 to 6 ft. apart in rows 5 to 10 ft. apart. Phoma sabdariffae Sacc. has also done minimal When 2 or 3 leaves have developed, the seedlings damage (63). are thinned out by 50%. If grown mainly for herbage, the plants may be only 2 ft. apart and the seed can be sown as early as March and no Harvesting thinning is done in the early stage (63). Roselle is a short-day plant and photoperiodic. For herbage purposes, the plants may be cut Unlike kenaf, roselle crops cannot be grown suc off six weeks after transplanting, leaving only 3 cessively throughout the year (13, 39). to 4 in. of stem in the field. A second cutting is If intended solely for the production of calyces, made 4 weeks later and a third after another 4 the ideal planting time in southern Florida is mid- weeks. Then the shorn plants are thinned out— May (62). Blooming will occur in September and two of every three rows removed—and the remain October and calyces will be ready to harvest in ing plants left to grow and develop fruit as a sec November and December. Harvesting causes latent ond product. buds to develop and extends the flowering life of Calyces are harvested when full grown but still the plant to late February. When the fruit is not tender and, at this stage, are easily snapped off by gathered but left to mature, the plants will die in hand. They are easier to break off in the morning January (62). than at the end of the day (49). If harvesting is Rolfs recommended whatever fertilizer would overdue and the stems have toughened, clippers be ordinarily used for vegetables but warned that must be used. only % to V2 the usual amount should be applied. The fruits of roselle ripen progressively from He wryly remarked "As a whole, the plants are the lowest to the highest. Harvesting of seeds takes rather more vigorous than need be; consequently place when the lower and middle tiers of the last no attention need be paid in the direction of vigor." of the fruits are allowed to mature, at which time (49) An excess of ammonia encourages vegetative the plants are cut down, stacked for a few days, growth and reduces fruit production (62). Com then threshed between canvas sheets (15). 422 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1974

Yield garded as diuretic, choleretic, febrifugal and hy- potensive, decreasing the viscosity of the blood and Calyx production per plant has ranged from 3 stimulating intestinal peristalsis (40). Pharmacog- lbs. in California to 4 lbs. in Puerto Rico and 16 nosists in Senegal recommend roselle extract for lbs. in South Florida (49). In Hawaii, roselle lowering blood pressure (25a). In 1962, Sharaf intercropped with rubber yielded 16,800 kg. per confirmed the hypotensive activity of the calyces hectare, 19,000 kg. when planted alone (63). Dual- and found them antispasmodic, anthelmintic and purpose plantings can yield 17,000 kg. of herbage antibacterial as well (51). In 1964, the aqueous in 3 cuttings and, later, 6,300 kg. of calyces (63). extract was found effective against Ascaris gal- linarum in poultry. Three years later, Sharaf and Food Value co-workers showed that both the aqueous extract Nutritionists have found roselle calyces as sold and the coloring matter of the calyces are lethal in Central American markets to be high in calcium, to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (52). In experi niacin, riboflavin and iron (33, 34). Samples ana ments with domestic fowl, roselle extract decreased the rate of absorption of alcohol and so lessened lyzed in Guatemala yielded, per 100 g.: moisture, 9.2 g.; ether extract, 2.61 g.; crude its effect on the system (61). In Guatemala, roselle "ade" is a "favorite remedy for the after effects fiber, 12.0 g.; nitrogen, 1.146 g.; ash, 6.90 mg. ; of drunkenness'' (57). calcium, 1,263 mg.; phosphorus, 273.2 mg.; iron, 8.98 mg.; carotene, .029 mg.; thiamine, In East Africa, the infusion, calted "Sudan .117 mg.; riboflavin, .277 mg.; niacin, 3.765 tea", is taken to relieve coughs (17). Roselle juice, mg.; ascorbic acid total, 6.7 mg. (34). with salt, pepper, asafetida and molasses, is taken as a remedy for biliousness (45). Citric acid, d-malic acid, tartaric acid and hibiscic acid are also present (4, 25a). The heated leaves are applied to cracks in the Busson shows amino acid content as follows feet and a lotion prepared from them is used on (N = 16 p. 100): arginine, 3.6; cystine, 1.3; sores and wounds. The seeds are said to be di histidine, 1.5; isoleucine, 3.0; leucine, 5.0; lysine uretic and tonic in action (17) and the brownish- 3.9; methionine, 1.0; phenylalanine, 3.2; threo- yellow (4) seed oil is claimed to heal sores on nine, 3.0; tryptophane, —; tyrosine, 2.2; valine, camels (17). In India, a decoction of the seeds is 3.8; aspartic acid, 16.3; glutamic acid, 7.2; given to relieve dysuria, strangury and mild cases alanine, 3.7 glycine, 3.8; proline, 5.6; serine, of dyspepsia and debility (45). Brazilians attrib 3.5 (12). ute stomachic, emollient and resolutive properties to the bitter roots (27). Fresh leaves contain: 86.2% moisture (4); 1.7 to 3.2% protein (59); 1.1% fat; 10% carbohy drate; 1% mineral matter; .18% calcium; .04% Handling and Preparation for Use phosphorus; .0054% iron; 1.25% malic acid. The seeds contain: 12.9% moisture; 3.29% nitrogen; Rolfs, in 1929, reported that fresh roselle 16.8% fatty oil; 16.8% cellulose; 15.8% pento- calyces, as harvested, were successfully shipped by sans; 11.1% starch (4). rail to Washington for retail sale and he judged that they could stand rail transport to any markets east of the Mississippi (49). John Ripperton of Other Constituents the Hawaiian Experiment Station maintained that, The dried calyces contain the flavonoids gos- for jelly- and wine-making, it is unnecessary to sypetine, hibiscetine and sabdaretine (25a). The take out the seed capsule (31), but neglecting to major pigment, formerly reported as hibiscin, has do so may result in a "stringy" product (2) which been identified as daphniphylline. Small amounts would be contaminated with the minute hairs from of delphinidin 3-monoglucoside, cyanidin 3-mono- the surface of the capsule and these hairs are glucoside (chrysanthemin), and delphinidin are quite likely to be injurious (7). also present (52a). Toxicity is slight (25a). Roselle calyces are best prepared for use by washing, then making an incision around the

Medicinal Value tough base of the calyx below the bracts to free and remove it with the seed capsule attached. The In India, Africa and Mexico, all above-ground calyces are then ready for immediate use or may parts of the roselle plant are valued in native be frozen (31) or dried in the sun (67, 68) or by medicine. Infusions of the leaves or calyces are re artificial means for out-of-season supply, market- MORTON: THE ROSELLE 423 ing or export. In Mexico today, the dried calyces "evaporated and compressed" for export from the are packed for sale in imprinted, plastic bags. For Philippines (63). retailing in Africa, dried roselle is pressed into solid cakes or balls. In Senegal, the dried calyces Food, Feed and Beverage Uses are squeezed into great balls weighing 80 kg. for shipment to Europe (6). Eleven pounds of fresh Fresh roselle calyces may be merely chopped calyces dehydrate to one pound of dried roselle and added to fruit salads. In Africa, they are fre which is equal to the fresh for most culinary pur quently cooked as a side-dish eaten with pulverized poses (4). peanuts (69). For stewing as sauce or filling for The herbage is apparently mostly utilized in tarts (22) or pies, they may be left intact, if the fresh state though Wester proposed that it be tender, and cooked with l1^ cups of sugar for

Fig. 4. Dried roselle calyces, as sold on Mexican markets, are mainly used to make a popular "ade", but are equal to the fresh for most purposes. Photo by Julia Morton 424 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1974

every 6 cups of calyces (pressed down firmly) The young leaves and tender stems of roselle (31). The product will be almost indistinguishable are eaten raw in salads (19) or cooked as greens from cranberry sauce in taste and appearance (38, 64) alone or in combination with other vege (49). For making a finer-textured sauce or juice, tables (60) or with meat or fish (10). They are sirup, jam, marmalade, relish, chutney or jelly, also added to curries as seasoning (25). The leaves the calyces may be first chopped in a wooden bowl of green roselle are marketed in large quantities or passed through a meat grinder. Or the calyces, in Dakar, West Africa (6). after cooking, may be pressed through a sieve The juice of the boiled and strained leaves and (37). Mrs. T. S. Hilton in Nassau, Bahamas, rec stems is utilized for the same purposes as the ommends steaming the roselle with a little water juice extracted from the calyces (49, 65). Wester till soft before adding the sugar, then boiling for wrote in 1920: "The utilization of the herbage of 15 minutes (24). the roselle for the wholesale manufacture of a Roselle sauce or sirup may be added to pud wholesome, cheap wine was conceived by the writer dings, cake frosting, gelatins and salad dressing several years ago before Prohibition was enacted (18), also poured over gingerbread, pancakes, in the United States. This aspect of the wholesale waffles or ice cream. For jelly, % lb. of sugar is culture of the roselle cannot, of course, be con required for each pint of extracted juice (49). sidered within the jurisdiction of the United States Generally, it is not necessary to add pectin to at present." However, he envisioned a great de make a firm jelly. In fact, the calyces possess mand for roselle in the manufacture of soft drinks 3.19% pectin (4) and, in West Pakistan, roselle (63). has been recommended as a source of pectin for The commercial potential of roselle has yet to the fruit-preserving industry (46). be fully realized, but the time may have arrived Juice made by cooking 4 quarts of calyces with when mass production of the herbage for beverage 10 cups of water (or less, depending on strength use may be feasible. desired) is used for cold drinks and may be frozen The seeds are somewhat bitter but have been or bottled if not for immediate needs. In sterilized, ground to a meal for human food in Africa and sealed bottles or jars it keeps well providing no have also been roasted as a substitute for coffee sugar has been added (49). In the West Indies and (61). The residue remaining after extraction of tropical America, roselle is prized primarily for oil by parching, soaking and pounding the seeds or the cooling, lemonade-like beverage made from the by crushing and boiling them, is eaten in soup or calyces (16, 56). This is still "one of the most blended with bean meal in patties (17). It is high popular summer drinks of Mexico", as Rose ob in protein and valued as cattle feed when available served in 1899 (50). In Egypt, roselle "ade" is in quantity (4). The seeds are considered excellent consumed cold in the summer, hot in winter. In feed for chickens (30). Jamaica, a traditional Christmas drink is pre pared by putting roselle into an earthenware jug Literature Cited with a little grated ginger and sugar as desired, 1. Adams, C. D. 1972. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. Univ. pouring boiling water over it and letting it stand of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. P. 476. 2. Alexander, A. B. 1912. How to use Hawaii fruit and overnight. The liquid is drained off and served with food products. Paradise-Pacific Print., Honolulu. Pp. 63-64. 3. Andrews, F. W. 1952. The Flowering Plants of the ice and often with a dash of rum (5). A similar Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Vol. II. Pub'd for the Sudan Gov't spiced drink has long been made by natives of by T. Buncle & Co., Ltd., Arbroath, Scotland. Pp. 28 & 30. 4. Anonymous. 1959. The Wealth of India: Raw Materials. West Tropical Africa (17). Vol. V. Council of Sci. & Indus. Res., New Delhi. Pp. 92-96. 5. . 1951? (undated). 100 Jamaica Recipes. 10th Fermented, the juice yields an excellent wine. ed. The Gleaner Co., Ltd., Kingston, Jamaica. P. 28. 6. . 1971. Premiers Resultats d'une Tentative Mrs. Robert Newcomb of Homestead, Florida, de Culture en Grande Parcelle de l'Oseille de Guinee (Roselle: made a fine product by boiling a bushel of calyces, Hibiscus aabdariffa L.). C. Agr. Pr. Pays Chauds 3:127-131. 7. Beattie, J. H. 1937. Production of Roselle. Leaflet No. straining the juice and pouring into a 5-gal. glass 139. U. S. Dept. Agr., Washington, D. C. 4 pp. 8. Benthall, A. P. 1946. Trees of Calcutta and Its Neigh bottle, adding 12 lbs. of sugar by funnel and % borhood. Thacker Spink & Co. (1933) Ltd., Calcutta. P. 35. cake of fresh yeast, corking and siphoning until 9. Britton, N. Y. and P. Wilson. 1924. Botany of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Vol. 5, Pts. 1-4. Sci. Surv. of thoroughly "worked". (37) Puerto Rico and the Virgin Isls. New York Academy of Sci ences, New York. P. 563. The dried calyces are utilized in Europe to 10. Brown, W. H. 1954. Useful Plants of the Philippines. Vol. 2. Tech. Bull. #10. Philippine Dept. Agr. & Nat. Res., make extracts for flavoring liqueurs. In the United Manila. Pp. 416, 418. States, F&DA regulations permit the use of the 11. Burkill, I H. 1935. Dictionary of the Economic Prod ucts of Malay Peninsula. Vol. I. Crown Agents for the extracts in alcoholic beverages (21). In India and Colonies, London. Pp. 1170-1171. Burma, roselle is sometimes used as a dye (11). 12. Busson, F. 1965. Plantes Alimentaires de 1'Ouest Africain. Leconte, Marseille, France. Pp. 299-302. MORTON: THE ROSELLE 425

13. Cobley, L. S. 1956. An Introduction to the Botany of du Laos et du Vietnam. Centre de Rech. Sci. et Tech., Arch, Tropical Crops. Longmans, Green & Co., London. Pp. 71-73. des Rech. Agron. au Camb., au Laos et au Vietnam, Saigon. 14. Cook, 0. F. and G. N. Collins. 1903. Economic Plants Pp. 108-109. of Porto Rico. Contrib. U. S. National Herbarium Vol. 8, 43. Pope, W. T. 1930. Tropical Fruits. (In: Report of the Pt. 2. Smithsonian Inst., Washington, D. C. Pp. 71, 159-160. Hawaii Agr. Exper. Sta. 1929) Honolulu, P. 9. 15. Crane, J. C. 1948. Roselle—A Potentially Important 44. Purseglove, J. W. 1968. Tropical Crops: Dicotyledons. Plant Fiber. Econ. Bot. 3(1) : 89-103. Vol. 2. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. Pp. 370 & 372- 16. Crawford, D. L. 1937. Hawaii's Crop Parade. Ad 374. vertiser Pub'g Co., Ltd., Honolulu. Pp. 220-221. 45. Quisumbing, E. 1951. Medicinal Plants of the Philip 17. Dalziel, J. M. 1948. Useful Plants of West Tropical pines. Tech. Bull. 16. Phil. Dept. Agr. & Nat. Res., Manila. Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies, London. Pp. 129-130. Pp. 579-581. 18. Detraz. Mrs. E. 1953. Appetite Magic. Green Thumb. 46. Riaz, R. A. 1967. Pectin Extraction from Roselle April. Pp. 20, 22, 24. Sepals. Set. & Indus. (West Pakistan) 5(3) :435-441. 19. Dodge, C. R. 1897. Descriptive Catalogue of Useful 47. Robyns, A. 1965. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (n: Malvaceae, Fiber Plants of the World. Report No. 9. U.S. Dept. Agr., Fam. 115, Pt. VI of Flora of Panama, by R. E. Woodson, Office of Fiber Invest., Washington, D. C. Pp. 117, 196-197, Jr., R. W. Schery and collaborators). Ann. Missouri Bot. 213, 273. Gard. 52 (4):506 & 508. 20. Drury, H. 1873. The Useful Plants of India. William 48. Roig y Mesa, J. T. 1945. Plantas Medicinales, Arom- H. Allen & Co., London. Pp. 244-245. aticas o Venenosas de Cuba. Cultural, S. A., Havana. P. 575. 21. Furia, T. E. and N. Bellanca. 1971. Fenaroli's Hand 49. Rolfs, P. H. 1929. Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening. book of Flavor Ingredients. The Chemical Rubber Co., Cleve The Macmillan Co., New York. Pp. 209-214. land. Pp. 212-213. 50. Rose, J. N. 1899. Notes on Useful Plants of Mexico. 22. Gollan, ? 1945. Gollan's Indian Vegetable Gardening. Contrib. U. S. National Herbarium Vol. 5, No. 4. Smith 6th ed. Thacker Spink & Co. (1933) Ltd., Calcutta. Pp. 86. sonian Inst., Washington, D. C. P. 225. 23. Harris, W. 1913. Notes on Fruits and Vegetables in 51. Sharaf, A. 1962. The pharmacological characteristics Jamaica. Gov't Printing Office, Kingston. P. 20. of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Planta Med. 10(1) :48-52. 24. Higgs, H. 1965. Bahamian Cook Book. 8th ed. Pub'd 52. , O. Lotfy and A. Geneidy. 1967. The effect by compiler, Nassau, Bahamas. P. 116. of a coloring matter separated from Hibiscus sabdariffa on 25. Jacalne, D. V. 1960. Edible fruit-bearing trees in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis as compared-tto that of its watery Philippines. Forestry Leaves 12 (1) : 39. extract. Qual. Plant. Mat. Veg. 15(2) : 117-122. 25a. Kerharo, J. 1971. Senegal bisap (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 52a. Shibata, M. and M. Furukawa. 1969. Reexamination or Guinea sorrel or red sorrel. Plant. Med. Phytother. 5(4): of the structure of so-called hiviscin. Shokubutsiigaku Zasshi 277-281. (Chem. Abs. 77, 1972, #16568s). 82(974-5):341-347 (Chem. Abs. 72, 1970; #96801x). 26. Laurence, G. 1971. The Cocoa Beetle, A Pest of Sor 53. Smith, M. 1959. Florida Fruit Puts Cranberry to rel. J. Agr. Soc. Trin. & Tobago 71(1): 74. Shame. Miami News. Nov. 13. P. 6C. 27. LeCointe, P. 1947. Arvores e Plantas Uteis. 2nd ed. 54. Standley, P. C. 1923. Trees and Shrubs of Mexico. Amazonia Brasileira III. Companhia Editora Nacional, Sao Contrib. U. S. National Herbarium. Vol. 23, Pt. 3. Smith Paulo. P. 491. sonian Inst., Washington, D. C. P. 779. 28. Macbride, J. F. 1956. Flora of Peru. Vol. 13, Pt. 3A, 55. . 1928. Flora of the Panama Canal Zone. No. 2. Bot. Ser. Pub. 808. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Chicago. Contrib. U. S. National Herbarium. Vol. 27. Smithsonian Pp. 474-475. Inst., Washington, D. C. P. 258. 29. Manfred, L. 1947. 7,000 Recetas Botanicas, a base de 56. . 1937. Flora of Costa Rica. Pt. II. Pub. 1,300 Plantas Medicinales Americanas. Editorial Kier, Buenos 392. Bot. Ser. Vol. 18. Field Museum of Nat. Hist,, Chicago. Aires. P. 576. P. 668. 30. Martinez, M. 1959. Plantas Utiles de la Flora Mex- 57. and J. A. Steyermark. 1949. Flora of icana. Ediciones Botas, Mexico, D. F. Pp. 251-254. Guatemala. Ffeldiana, Botany. Vol. 24, Pt. 6. Pub. 642. Chi 31. Miller, C. D., K. Bazore and M. Bartow. 1955. Fruits cago Nat. Hist. Mus., Chicago. Pp. 351-352. of Hawaii. Univ. of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. Pp. 145-149. 58. Sturtevant, E. L. (Edited by U. P. Hedrick). 1919. 32. Morton, K. and J. F. Morton. 1946. Fifty Tropica] Sturtevant's Notes on Edible Plants. New York Agr. Exper. Fruits of Nassau. Text House (Fla.) Inc., Coral Gables. Pp. Sta., Geneva, New York. Pp. 304-305. 85-86. 59. Terra, G. J. A. 1966. Tropical Vegetables. Comm. 54e. 33. Munsell, H. E., L. O. Williams, L. P. Guild, C. B. Royal Trop. Inst. & Neth. Org. for Int'l Assist., Amsterdam. Troescher, G. Nightingale and R. S. Harris. 1949. Composi P. 52. tion of Food Plants of Central America. I. Honduras. Food 60. Walker, A. R. and R. Sillans. 1961. Les Plantes Utiles Res. 14(2) :5, 1 3,20. du Gabon. Encyc. Biologique LVI. Editions Paul Le Chevalier, 34. Paris. Pp. 274-275. and . 1950. Composition of Food Plants 61. Watt, J. M. and M. G. Breyer-Brandwijk. 1962. Med of Central America. III. Guatemala. Food Res. 15(1): 10, 17, icinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 18. 2nd ed. E. & S. Livingstone, Ltd., Edinburgh. Pp. 737 & 739. 85. 62. Wester, P. J. 1907. Roselle: Its Culture and Uses. -, L. T. Kelley and R. S. Harris. 1950. Composition Farm. Bull. 307. U. S. Dept. Agr., Washington, D. C. 16 Pp. of Food Plants of Central America. IV. El Salvador. Food 63. . 1920. The Cultivation and Uses of Roselle. Res. 15(4) :5, 15, 29. Cir. 120. Reprinted from Phil. Agr. Rev. 13(2). 11 pp.; 5 pis. 36. Neal, M. C. 1965. In Gardens of Hawaii. Spec. Pub. 64. . 1924. Food Plants of the Philippines. Bull. 50. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. P. 557. 39. Philippine Dept. Agr. & Nat. Res., Bur. of Agr., Manila. 37. Newcomb, Mrs. Robert. Redland Road, Homestead, Pp. 172-173 & 219. Fla. Personal communication, Dec. 19, 1948. 65. Whallon, A. P. 1954. Roselle: A Forgotten Plant. 38. Ochse, J. J. and R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink. 1931. Organic Gardening and Farming. April. Pp. 64-66. Vegetables of the Dutch East Indies. Dept. of Agr., Indus. 66. Wilder, G. P. 1911. Fruits of the Hawaiian Islands. & Comm. of Netherlands East Indies, Buitenzorg. Pp. 475- The Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd., Honolulu. Pp. 192-193. 477. 67. Williams, R. 0. 1949. USeful and Ornamental Plants 39. , M. J. Soule, Jr., M. J. Dijkman and in Zanzibar and P,emba. Zanzibar Protectorate, Gov't Printer, C. Wehlburg. 1961. Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture. Zanzibar. P. 297. Vol. II. The Macmillan Co., New York. Pp. 1148-1152. 68. and R. O. Williams, Jr. 1951. Useful and 40. Oliver, B. 1960. Medicinal Plants in Nigeria. Nigerian Ornamental Plants of Trinidad and Tobago. Guardian Com'l College of Arts, Science and Tech., Ibadan. Pp. 28, 67. Pty, Port-of-Spain. P. 187. 41. Ostendorf, F. W. 1962. Nuttige Planten en Sier- 69. Williamson, J. (Edited by P. J. Greenway). 1955. planten in Suriname. Bui. 79. Landbouwproefstation in Useful Plants of Nyasaland. Gov't Printer, Zomba, Nyasa- Suriname, Paramaribo. P. 120. land. Pp. 66-67. 42. Petelot, A. 1952. Plantes Medicinales du Cambodge,