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About Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra aka okro vegetable)

Abelmoschus esculentus - Okra, Ladies Fingers or Gumbo vegetable  is native to tropical Africa and Asia. It is an annual that typically grows 3-5' tall. It is grown for harvest of its edible fruit/seed pods. Species plants feature hibiscus-like yellow flowers (to 2-3” wide) with purplish centers. Cultivars expand the available flower colors to include attractive shades of pink, orange-red and red often with white centers. Flowers last only for one day, but plants bloom freely throughout the growing season to frost. Flowers give way to fruit capsules which have a musky aroma. Hairy, dark green leaves are deeply cut. Today it is widely cultivated for its edible green fruits, which are harvested when immature (after 3-5 days of development), and are infamous for their slimy mucilage. Family : Malvaceae