Comparative Botany on Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa ) Grown in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hibiscus sabdariffa goes by many common names worldwide, but in the United States of America, it is called Roselle. Roselle is an annual erect, herbaceous shrub. This plant in its entirety can be utilized for food and nutrition for human benefits. The objective of this study was to conduct a field trial in Louisiana to compare the botanical characteristics of 27 Roselle accessions collected worldwide including Cuba(2 accessions), Georgia(1), Ghana(2), India(1), Jamaica(1), Liberia(1), Malaysia(1), Nigeria(3), Poland(1), Senegal(2), South Africa(4), Sudan(3), Taiwan(1), Thailand(1), United States(1) and Zambia(2).;The goal is to help select accessions suitable for niche market production by small farmers and interested growers in the U.S. The field trial was conducted in 2009 growing season. The field planting spacing, as well as culture practices were studied. Field data collection included leaf dimensions, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll, leaf petiole, plant basal diameter, plant height and spread, fruit and calyx harvest. The herbarium of the 23 Roselle accessions was completed. Each accession was described according to habit, leaves, petiole, flower/calyx, and other. All individual accessions studied proved to be similar in species, but exceptionally diverse in representation. Major statistically significant differences among the accessions are reflected in the following characteristics: * Leaf area: Ghana PI-286312 has the highest leaf area while the Nigeria shows the lowest. * Chlorophyll: Both Jamaica and US Georgia PI-468413 accessions have the highest values while Nigeria PI-268100 and Ghana PL-286312 accessions are thelowest. * Plant height: The United States Georgia PI-468413accession has the highest value while Nigeria PI-2680100 is the lowest. * Leaf length: The Liberia accession has the highest value while South Africa PI-638933 shows the lowest. * Leaf width: Ghana PI-286319, Liberia and Sudan PI- 496717 accessions have the highest values while Nigeria shows the lowest. * Basal diameter: Thailand PI-365477, Poland PI-256041, United States Georgia PI-468413, GhanaPI-286319 and Sudan PI-496717 accessions have the highest values while India and South Africa have the lowest values. * Leaf width: Ghana PI-286319, Liberia and Sudan PI- 496717 accessions have the highest values while Nigeria shows the lowest. * Plant spread direction A: The Cuba accession has the highest value while the India accession shows the lowest. * Plant spread direction B: Jamaica and Cuba PI-207920 accessions have the highest values while the India accession shows the lowest. * Total calyx size: Nigeria and South Africa Transvaal PI-273549 accessions have the highest values while Cuba Lahabana PI 265319 and India accessions show the lowest. * Petiole: Both Liberia and Malaysia accessions have the highest values while Nigeria and Jamaica accessions show the lowest. This study gives a better understanding of characteristics of Roselle accessions that may be suitable to local environment and desirable for Louisiana growers.