Uses
Toxic parts
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
Seed
Leaves
Dried as a Flavouring
Cooked, Boiled, Steamed as a Vegetable
Root
Cooked as a Thickener
Flower buds, Flowers, Calyces
Cooked, Boiled, Steamed as a Vegetable
Material uses
A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a substitute for jute[11][12][4][13]. It is also used in making paper and textiles[14]. The fibres are about 2.4mm long[15]. 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[15]. A decoction of the root or of the seeds is used as a size for paper[16].
Medicinal uses(Warning!)
The roots are very rich in mucilage, having a strongly demulcent action[17][18]. They are said by some to be better than marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis)[17]. This mucilage can be used as a plasma replacement[8]. An infusion of the roots is used in the treatment of syphilis[8]. The juice of the roots is used externally in Nepal to treat cuts, wounds and boils[19]. The leaves furnish an emollient poultice[17][18][8]. A decoction of the immature capsules is demulcent, diuretic and emollient[8]. It is used in the treatment of catarrhal infections, ardor urinae, dysuria and gonorrhoea[8]. The seeds are antispasmodic, cordial and stimulant[8]. An infusion of the roasted seeds has sudorific properties[8].
Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed
Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. The seed germinates in 27 days at 15°c or 6 days at 35°c[3]. 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[20]. The plant requires a warm sunny position sheltered from winds[10]. It likes plenty of moisture, both in the soil and in the atmosphere[3]. Okra is commonly cultivated in warm temperate and tropical areas for its edible seedpod, there are many named varieties[5][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[20]. 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[21]. Plants also dislike low night temperatures[3]. 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[3].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Abelmoschus esculentus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Abelmoschus esculentus.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
- ? 2.02.12.2 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
- ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (32202/01/01)
- ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (32202/01/01)
- ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.8 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
- ? 6.06.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (32202/01/01)
- ? 7.07.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (32202/01/01)
- ? 8.008.018.028.038.048.058.068.078.088.098.108.118.12 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. (32202/01/01)
- ? 9.09.19.2 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana ISBN 0-00-634436-4 (32202/01/01)
- ? 10.0010.0110.0210.0310.0410.0510.0610.0710.0810.0910.10 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
- ? 11.011.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
- ? 12.012.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
- ? 13.013.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
- ? 14.014.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (32202/01/01)
- ? 15.015.115.2 Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press (32202/01/01)
- ? 16.016.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
- ? 17.017.117.217.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
- ? 18.018.118.2 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (32202/01/01)
- ? 19.019.1 Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (32202/01/01)
- ? 20.020.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (32202/01/01)
- ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (32202/01/01)
"image:Abelmoschus esculentus2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.
