Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra, Lady's fingers, Gumbo)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Malvales > Family: Malvaceae

Believed to be native to tropical West Africa and is cultivated for the young fruit, which are eaten as a vegetable. It is cultivated on a small scale in southern Africa and is known to grow wild in this region.

Publications

• van Wyk, B.-E. 2005. Food Plants of the World - Identification, Culinary Uses and Nutritional Value. Briza, Pretoria.