Abelmoschus moschatus

Abelmoschus moschatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species: A. moschatus
Binomial name
Abelmoschus moschatus
Medik.
Synonyms[1]

Abelmoschus moschatus (Abelmosk, ambrette seeds, annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, muskdana, musk mallow,[2] musk okra,[2] musk seeds, ornamental okra, rose mallow seeds, tropical jewel hibiscus,[2] Yorka okra) is an aromatic and medicinal plant native to India in the Malvaceae family.

Characteristics

The seeds have a sweet, flowery, heavy fragrance similar to that of musk (hence its specific epithet moschātus, scientific Latin for ‘musk’).

Despite its tropical origin, the plant is frost-hardy.

Uses of the plant

Musk mallow seed oil was once frequently used as a substitute in perfumes for animal musk; however this use is now mostly replaced by various synthetic musks due to its high cost.

Culinary uses

It has many culinary uses. The seeds are added to coffee; unripe pods ("musk okra"), leaves and new shoots are eaten as vegetables.

Medicinal uses

Different parts of the plant have uses in Ayurveda herbal medicine.[3]

Other uses

In industry the root mucilage provides sizing for paper; tobacco is sometimes flavoured with the flowers.

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "USDA GRIN Taxonomy".
  3. ↑ L. D. Kapoor (2000). Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants: Herbal Reference Library. Taylor & Francis.
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