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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Abelmoschus''
| image = Abelmoschus esculentus.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Abelmoschus esculentus'' leaves, <br/>flower buds and young fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
| genus = '''''Abelmoschus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Friedrich Kasimir Medikus|Medik.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''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.
''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''.
;Selected Species
*''[[Abelmoschus caillei]]'' - (syn. ''Hibsicus manihot'' var. ''caillei''). [[Abelmoschus caillei|West African okra]]
*''[[Abelmoschus esculentus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus esculentus''). [[Okra]]
*''Abelmoschus manihot'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus manihot''). [[Aibika]]
*''Abelmoschus moschatus'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus abelmoschus''). [[Musk Mallow]]
===Uses===
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]].
''Abelmoschus manihot'' (aibika) furnishes cordage like [[jute]], and ''Abelmoschus moschatus'' (musk mallow) is grown for [[musk seed]]s (musk ambrette, which causes [[photoallergy]]).
For a recipe using aibika, please visit [http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/recipe3.html Aibika Recipe].
==Reference==
*Kundu BC, Biswas C. 1973. Anatomical characters for distinguishing the genera ''Abelmoschus'' and ''Hibiscus''. ''Proc. Indian Sci. Congr.'' 60. (3): 295
[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Paleotropical flora]]
[[Category:Underutilized crops]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Abelmoschus''
| image = Abelmoschus esculentus.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Abelmoschus esculentus'' leaves, <br/>flower buds and young fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
| genus = '''''Abelmoschus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Friedrich Kasimir Medikus|Medik.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''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.
''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''.
;Selected Species
*''[[Abelmoschus caillei]]'' - (syn. ''Hibsicus manihot'' var. ''caillei''). [[Abelmoschus caillei|West African okra]]
*''[[Abelmoschus esculentus]]'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus esculentus''). [[Okra]]
*''Abelmoschus manihot'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus manihot''). [[Aibika]]
*''Abelmoschus moschatus'' - (syn. ''Hibiscus abelmoschus''). [[Musk Mallow]]
===Uses===
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]].
''Abelmoschus manihot'' (aibika) furnishes cordage like [[jute]], and ''Abelmoschus moschatus'' (musk mallow) is grown for [[musk seed]]s (musk ambrette, which causes [[photoallergy]]).
For a recipe using aibika, please visit [http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/recipe3.html Aibika Recipe].
==Reference==
*Kundu BC, Biswas C. 1973. Anatomical characters for distinguishing the genera ''Abelmoschus'' and ''Hibiscus''. ''Proc. Indian Sci. Congr.'' 60. (3): 295
[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Paleotropical flora]]
[[Category:Underutilized crops]]