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'''Corchorus''' is a genus of about 40-100 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. Different common names are used in different contexts, with jute applying to the fibre produced from the plant, and melokhia (with many similar transliterations from the Arabic: ملوخية) applied to the leaves used as a vegetable.
They are tall, usually annual herbs, reaching a height of 2-4 m, unbranched or with only a few side branches. The leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, with an acuminate tip and a finely serrated or lobed margin. The flowers are small (2-3 cm diameter) and yellow, with five petals; the fruit is a many-seeded capsule. It thrives almost anywhere, and can be grown year-round.
The genus ''Oceanopapaver'', previously of uncertain placement, has recently been synonymized under ''Corchorus''.

Contents

Names

Uses

Fiber

Food

References and external links

Names

The name "melokhia" is said to have come from the Arabic word ''malek'' (ملك). It is said that the Fatimids made the Corchorus an exclusive dish for themselves, and forbade anyone else to cook it. The word "melokhia" is very similar to "melokia", which means "royal".
Other names in English include Bush Okra, Nalta Jute, Jute Mallow, and Jew's Mallow.
In Japan the vegetable is known as ''moroheiya''.
Called ''saluyot'' in Ilocano, it is a popular leafy vegetable in the Ilocos region of the Philippines.

Uses

Fiber

''See main article at jute''
The plants of '''Corchorus''' genus satisfy the world with great amounts of fiber needs. The fibers from these plants are the most widely cultivated vegetable fiber after cotton.

Food

Young melokhia leaves are used as a green leaf vegetable; ''Corchorus olitorius'' is used mainly in southern Asia, Egypt and Cyprus, ''Corchorus capsularis'' in Japan and China. It has a mucilaginous (somewhat "slimy") texture, similar to okra, when cooked. The seeds are used as a flavouring, and a herbal tea is made from the dried leaves. Melokhia is eaten widely in Egypt; some consider it the Egyptian national dish. It features in the cuisines of Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Jordan. One typical dish is a melokhia stew served over white rice and boiled chicken.
The leaves are rich in betacarotene, iron, calcium, and Vitamin C. The plant has an antioxidant activity with a significant α-tocopherol equivalent Vitamin E.

References and external links

★ Turkish-Cypriot Cuisine: ''Molohiya''

★ Malvaceae.info page on ''Corchorus''

★ The Golden, Copper, and Silver Fibers Contains information and images about some plants of ''Corchorus & Hibiscus'' genus.

★ Molokheya: An Egyptian National dish contains culinary and historical information.

★ [1]

★ Whitlock, B. A., K. G. Karol, and W. S. Alverson. 2003. Chloroplast DNA Sequences Confirm the Placement of the Enigmatic ''Oceanopapaver'' within ''Corchorus'' (Grewioideae: Malvaceae s.l., Formerly Tiliaceae). ''International Journal of Plant Sciences'' 164: 35–41 (abstract here).