Changes

{{Taxobox

{{SPlantbox

| color = lightgreen

|familia=Malvaceae

| name = ''Abelmoschus''

|genus=Abelmoschus

| image = Abelmoschus esculentus.jpg

|Min ht metric=cm

| image_width = 250px

|origin=Asia

| image_caption = ''Abelmoschus esculentus'' leaves, <br/>flower buds and young fruit

|lifespan=perennial, annual

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae

|exposure=sun

| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]

|features=flowers

| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]

|flowers=red, yellow, purple

| ordo = [[Malvales]]

|Temp Metric=°F

| familia = [[Malvaceae]]

|image=Abelmoschus esculentus.jpg

| genus = '''''Abelmoschus'''''

|image_width=240

|image_caption=''Abelmoschus esculentus'' leaves, <br/>flower buds and young fruit

}}

}}

'''''Abelmoschus''''' is a genus of about fifteen species of [[flowering plant]]s in the mallow family [[Malvaceae]], native to tropical [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. It was formerly included within ''[[Hibiscus]]'', but is now classified as a distinct genus.

'''''Abelmoschus''''' is a genus of about fifteen species of [[flowering plant]]s in the mallow family [[Malvaceae]], native to tropical [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. It was formerly included within ''[[Hibiscus]]'', but is now classified as a distinct genus.

The genus comprises [[annual plant|annual]] and [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] plants, growing to 2 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10-40 cm long and broad, palmately lobed with 3-7 lobes, the lobes very variable in depth, from barely lobed, to cut almost to the base of the leaf. The [[flower]]s are 4-8 cm diameter, with five white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal. The [[fruit]] is a capsule, 5-20 cm long, containing numerous [[seed]]s.

The genus comprises [[annual plant|annual]] and [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous]] plants, growing to 2 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10-40 cm long and broad, palmately lobed with 3-7 lobes, the lobes very variable in depth, from barely lobed, to cut almost to the base of the leaf. The [[flower]]s are 4-8 cm diameter, with five white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal. The [[fruit]] is a capsule, 5-20 cm long, containing numerous [[seed]]s.

''Abelmoschus'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Chionodes|Chionodes hibiscella]]'' which has been recorded on ''A. moschatus''.

 

 

Pests: [[Slugs]], [[spider mites]], [[whiteflies]]. Diseases: [[Powdery mildew]] and some other fungal diseases. Root rots and bacterial diseases can also afflict Abelmoschus.

;Selected Species

==Species==

*''[[Abelmoschus caillei]]'' - (syn. ''Hibsicus manihot'' var. ''caillei''). [[Abelmoschus caillei|West African okra]]  

*''[[Abelmoschus caillei]]'' - (syn. ''Hibsicus manihot'' var. ''caillei''). [[Abelmoschus caillei|West African okra]]  

*''[[Abelmoschus esculentus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus esculentus''). [[Okra]]

*''[[Abelmoschus esculentus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus esculentus''). [[Okra]]

*''[[Abelmoschus moschatus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus abelmoschus''). [[Musk Mallow]]

*''[[Abelmoschus moschatus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus abelmoschus''). [[Musk Mallow]]

===Uses===

==Gallery==

Several species are edible, with both the young seed pods and the young leaves being eaten as a [[vegetable]]. The most important commercially-grown species is [[Okra]].

{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->

''Abelmoschus manihot'' (aibika) furnishes cordage like [[jute]], and ''Abelmoschus moschatus'' (musk mallow) is grown for [[musk seed]]s (musk ambrette, which causes [[photoallergy]]).

Image:Upload.png| photo 1

For a recipe using aibika, please visit [http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/recipe3.html Aibika Recipe].

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==Reference==

==External links==

*Kundu BC, Biswas C. 1973. Anatomical characters for distinguishing the genera ''Abelmoschus'' and ''Hibiscus''. ''Proc. Indian Sci. Congr.'' 60. (3): 295

*{{wplink}}