Saluyot (Jute)

Common Names/Local Names:
 
Jute Mallow or Jews Mallow; Jute (English)
Saluyot (Tagalog/ Ilocano); Tugabang (Bisaya)
 
Botanical Description
 
Jute is an erect, grabrous, annual plant or shrub, growing up to 2 meters high.  The leaves are ovate, laceolate, toothed margins.  Flowers are solitary with yellow petals on the axils.  The fruit is a capsule with many black seeds. 
 
Adaptability
 
Jute or Saluyot is cultivated over a wide range of environments.  The plants grow well under hot, wet in the lowland tropics. It is also responds especially to warm, humid weather and is often grown near riverbanks and waste places.  Cold weather and severe periods of drought can kill the crop.  A loam or silty-loam soil and plenty of organic matter is ideal.  It tolerates soil pH of 4.5 to 8.0, but more extreme pH conditions will reduce the availability of iron in the soil.
It is a short day plant, hence, short production suffers because of flowering during the months of November to February.
 
Uses/Importance
 
Jute mallow, jews mallow or jute is famous for its sturdy natural fiber but there are cultivars that are cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The leaves are used fresh or dried.  They can be stored after drying and used later on during periods of scarcity.  The leaves become mucilagious when cooked, a trait of this crop, which highly appreciated.

Nutrient Value
 
The leaves of saluyot are rich source of iron, protein, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate  as shown in Table 1.

Table 1.  Nutritional values of saluyot (Boiled/100 grams edible portion)
 

Nutrients	Boiled
Moisture (%)	80.4 84.1
Food energy (cal.)	43 - 58
Protein (g)	4.5 5.6
Fiber (g)	1.7 2.0
Total Carbohydrates (g)	7.6 12.4
Ash (g)	2.4
Calcium  (mg)	266 - 366
Phosphorus  (mg)	97 - 122
Iron  (mg)	11.6
Sodium (mg)	12
Potassium (mg)	444
Vit. A (I.U.)	6,390
Thiamine (mg)	15
Riboflavin (mg)	28
Niacin (mg)	1.5
Ascorbic acid (mg)	95

 
 
References
 
A.C. Sas. 1984. Plants and Health. p 10.
M.C. Palada and L.C. Chang, AVRDC International Cooperators Guide. May 2003, pub #03-552
PCARRD Technoguide 1985 pp 18-19.