Abelmoschus moschatus

Abelmoschus moschatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Abelmoschus
Species:	A. moschatus
Binomial name
Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.

Abelmoschus moschatus (Abelmosk, Ambrette seeds, Annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, Muskdana, Musk mallow, Musk okra, Musk seeds, Ornamental okra, Rose mallow seeds, Tropical jewel hibiscus, Yorka okra; syn. Hibiscus abelmoschus L.) is an aromatic and medicinal plant in the Malvaceae family, which is native to India.

Characteristics

The seeds have a sweet, flowery, heavy fragrance similar to that of 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 for animal musk; however this use is now mostly replaced by various synthetic musks due to costs.

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 traditional and complementary medicine, not all of which have been scientifically proven. It is also considered an insecticide.

Other uses

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

References

• Brown, Deni (1995). The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of herbs & their uses. London: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0751302031. 

External links

• Abelmoschus moschatus
• Abelmoschus moschatus
• Abelmoschus moschatus Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (traditional Chinese)(English)