Practical
Plants

Abelmoschus esculentus

Okra

an annual member of the Abelmoschus genus in the family Malvaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Malvaceae
Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The hairs on the seed pods can be an irritant to some people and gloves should be worn when harvesting. These hairs can be easily removed by washing[10].

Edible uses

Immature fruit - cooked on their own or added to soups etc[9][15]. They can be used fresh or dried[7]. Mucilaginous[1], they are commonly used as a thickening for soups, stews and sauces[7]. The fruits are rich in pectin and are also a fair source of iron and calcium[12]. The fresh fruits contain 740 iu vitamin A[12]. The fruit should be harvested whilst young, older fruits soon become fibrous[1]. The fruit can be up to 20cm long[10]. Seed - cooked or ground into a meal and used in making bread or made into 'tofu' or 'tempeh'[7]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[9][15][1]. Probably the best of the coffee substitutes[21]. The seed contains up to 22% of an edible oil[18][21][5][7][12]. The leaves, flower buds, flowers and calyces can be eaten cooked as greens[7]. The leaves can be dried, crushed into a powder and stored for later use[7]. They are also used as a flavouring[1]. Root - it is edible but very fibrous[2]. Mucilaginous, without very much flavour[2].

Plant part
Seed
Preparation
Roasted, Ground
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed
Preparation
Cooked, Ground
Product or use
Flour
Plant part
Fruit
Preparation
Cooked, Dried
Product or use
Thickener
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Pectin
Plant part
Fruit
Preparation
Raw
Product or use
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Preparation
Dried
Product or use
Flavouring
Plant part
Leaves
Preparation
Cooked, Boiled, Steamed
Product or use
Vegetable
Plant part
Root
Preparation
Cooked
Product or use
Thickener
Plant part
Flower buds, Flowers, Calyces
Preparation
Cooked, Boiled, Steamed
Product or use
Vegetable

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The roots are very rich in mucilage, having a strongly demulcent action[17][11]. They are said by some to be better than marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis)[17]. This mucilage can be used as a plasma replacement[12]. An infusion of the roots is used in the treatment of syphilis[12]. The juice of the roots is used externally in Nepal to treat cuts, wounds and boils[16]. The leaves furnish an emollient poultice[17][11][12]. A decoction of the immature capsules is demulcent, diuretic and emollient[12]. It is used in the treatment of catarrhal infections, ardor urinae, dysuria and gonorrhoea[12]. The seeds are antispasmodic, cordial and stimulant[12]. An infusion of the roasted seeds has sudorific properties[12].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a substitute for jute[19][20][21][3]. It is also used in making paper and textiles[4]. The fibres are about 2.4mm long[8]. When used for paper the stems are harvested in late summer or autumn after the edible seedpods have been harvested, the leaves are removed and the stems are steamed until the fibres can be stripped off. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then put in a ball mill for 3 hours. The paper is cream coloured[8]. A decoction of the root or of the seeds is used as a size for paper[6].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Size

Environment

Range
The original habitat is obscure.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed germinates in 27 days at 15°c or 6 days at 35°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[10].

Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile soil in full sun and a pH around 6 to 6.7[10] but it tolerates a wide range of soil types and pH from 5.5 to 8[10]. It prefers a soil with a high potash content[14]. The plant requires a warm sunny position sheltered from winds[10]. It likes plenty of moisture, both in the soil and in the atmosphere[1]. Okra is commonly cultivated in warm temperate and tropical areas for its edible seedpod, there are many named varieties[7][10]. Most cultivars require about 4 months from sowing before a crop is produced, though some early maturing varieties can produce a crop in 50 days in the tropics[14]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it sometimes succeeds outdoors in hot summers but is really best grown in a greenhouse since it prefers daytime temperatures of 25°c or more[13]. Plants also dislike low night temperatures[1]. There are some early-maturing varieties that are more tolerant of cooler temperate conditions and these could be tried outdoors[10]. These include 'Clemson's Spineless', 'Emerald Spineless', 'Long Green' and 'Green Velvet'[10]. The flowers are much visited by bees but they may require syringing in order to improve fertilization when plants are grown in a greenhouse. Plants resent being transplanted[1].

References

  1. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  2. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  4. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  12. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  13. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  14. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0

    ↩1↩2

  15. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  16. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

  19. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  20. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  21. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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