Urena lobata

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Urena lobata or Ceasarweed is one of the common shrubs growing in disturbed areas and it can reach more than 1.5m tall. The flower is attractive - pink with five petals and borne on the leaf axil. It looks like tiny hibiscus flower, and indeed it belongs to the same family as the Hibiscus, Malvaceae. The fruit is spiky and easily adheres to human trousers or presumably animal fur as well.  The leaves are palmately lobed and hairy.

Urena lobata growing along rural road, Ceasarweed, Congo Jute, invasive species, alien species, nonnative species
Urena lobata growing along rural roadside

Urena lobata is also referred as the Congo Jute, because its fiber is similar in quality to that of the Jute. For this reason it is planted in Congo and some countries in South America and Asia where the fiber is made into rope and paper. Apart from being a source of fiber, the Congo Jute/Ceasar weed has many uses in traditional medicine. The leaf is known to be used as pain killers and to treat dirrhoea. The bark is beneficial to treat skin injuries and the plant is also used to treat swellings.

Hibiscus-like flower of Urena lobata, Congo JUte, Ceasarweed, pink flower, Malvaceae
The Hibiscus-like flower of Urena lobata

In some countries, including the United States, Urena lobata is regarded as an alien, non-native invasive species. In Southeast Asia, It is often found invading disturbed land and population grows along rivers and rural roads but it does not seem to prefer shade.

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