Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus, Methodus 617. 1794)

Family: Malvaceae

Author: Moench

Bibliography: Methodus 617. 1794

Year: 1794

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Abelmoschus

Vegetable: True

Observations: India to Myanmar

Description

Okra, scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Malvaceae family. This warm-season vegetable is widely appreciated for both its edible green seed pods and its versatility in various culinary traditions. It is believed to have originated from the region stretching from India to Myanmar, where it is still cultivated extensively today.

Characterized by its tall, upright stalks and hibiscus-like flowers, okra is a remarkable plant that stands out in the garden. Each plant can grow up to six feet tall, producing an abundance of long, slender pods that are typically harvested when they are still tender and immature. The pods are known for their distinctive mucilaginous texture, which acts as a natural thickener in dishes such as soups, stews, and gumbos.

The cultivation of okra dates back centuries, with historical references like Moench’s “Methodus” in 1794 highlighting its longstanding agricultural importance. Despite its ancient roots, okra remains a staple in modern gardens and kitchens around the world because of its resilience and the ease with which it can be grown.

Beyond its culinary uses, okra is also valued for its nutritional benefits. It is a rich source of vitamins A and C, as well as being high in antioxidants, fiber, and various essential minerals, making it a healthy addition to a balanced diet.

In summary, okra is an essential plant with a rich history and a wide range of applications. Its origins from India to Myanmar mark it as an important part of agricultural heritage, and its continued popularity demonstrates its enduring value in both nutrition and cuisine.

Common Names

Eng: gumbo, okra, lady’s finger, lady’s-finger, lady’s-fingers
Deu: ocker, okra, eßbarer bisameibisch
Ita: gombo, ocra
Spa: gombo
Fra: gombo, okra
Msa: kacang bendi
Ind: kopi arab
Swe: okra
Por: quiabo
En: Okra, Gumbo, Lady’s-fingers, Idelele, Lady’s fingers, Kusat, Zúlnà, भिण्डी, Lady’s finger, Lady’s-finger, Gobo, Quiabo, Kacang bendi
Ak: Nkruma
Sq: Bamja
Am: ባሚያ
Ar: بامية, Bamije
Hy: Բամիա
Az: Bamiyə
Eu: Okra
Be: Бамія ядомая, Бамія
Bn: ঢেঁড়শ
Bs: Bamija
Bg: Бамя
My: ရုံးပတီပင်
Ca: Ocra
Zh: Ka fei huang kui, 黃秋葵
Cs: Ibiškovec jedlý
Da: Okra
Dv: ބާމިޔާ
Nl: Okra
Eo: Gombo
Et: Okra
Fi: Okra
Fr: Gombo, Okra, Gombo musqué, Calou diab
Gl: Quiabo
Ka: Ბამი
De: Eßbarer Bisameibisch, Ocker, Okra
El: Μπάμια
Gu: ભીંડા
Ht: Kalalou
Ha: Kuɓewa
He: במיה
Hi: भिण्डी
Is: Okra
Id: Kopi arab, Bendi
It: Gombo, Ocra, Bammia d’Egitto, Corna di Greci
Jv: Bendi
Kn: ಬೆಂಡೆ
Kk: Бамия
Ko: 오크라
Ku: Bamye
Lv: Bāmija
Ln: Dɔngɔ́dɔngɔ́
Lt: Valgomoji ybiškė
Mk: Бамја
Ms: Kacang bendi, Bendi
Ml: വെണ്ട
Mr: भेंडी
Ne: रामतोरियाँ
No: Okra
Or: ଭେଣ୍ଡି
Pa: ਭਿੰਡੀ
Ps: بېنډۍ
Fa: بامیه
Pl: Piżmian jadalny
Pt: Quiabo
Pt-br: Quiabo
Ro: Bamă
Ru: Bamiâ, Бамия
Sa: भिण्डिः
Sr: Bamija
Sn: Derere rechipudzi, Derere
Sd: ڀينڊي
Si: බණ්ඩක්කා
Sk: Ibištek jedlý
Es: Gombo, Molondrón, Quimbombó, Jedilni oslez, Ají turko
Su: Bindi
Sw: Mbamia
Sv: Okra
Tl: Okra
Zh-tw: 黃秋葵
Ta: வெண்டி
Te: బెండకాయ
Th: กระเจี๊ยบ
Tr: Bamya
Uk: Бамія їстівна
Ur: بھنڈی
Uz: Bamiya
Vi: Đậu bắp

Synonyms

• Hibiscus praecox (Forssk.)
• Hibiscus ficifolius (Mill.)
• Abelmoschus tuberculatus (Pal & Singh)
• Hibiscus hispidissimus (A.Chev.)
• Hibiscus bammia (O.Targ.Tozz.)
• Hibiscus esculentus var. praecox ((Forssk.) A.Chev.)
• Hibiscus esculentus var. textilis (A.Chev.)
• Abelmoschus bammia ((O.Targ.Tozz.) Webb)
• Abelmoschus longifolius ((Willd.) Kostel.)
• Abelmoschus tuberculatus var. deltoidefolius (T.K.Paul & M.P.Nayar)
• Hibiscus esculentus (L.)
• Abelmoschus praecox ((Forssk.) Sickenb.)
• Hibiscus longifolius (Willd.)

Distribution

• Bangladesh (native)
• India (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niger (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Kristine Paulus from New York, United States (cc-by)

Taken Mar 22, 2010 by EOL − Ton Rulkens (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2013 by Krol AS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2014 by EOL − Martin Grimm (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2017 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Aravind Sivaraj (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − user at project|HeraldDesa|wikipedia|en (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Earth100 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 22, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Judgefloro (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Judgefloro (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2017 by stef (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Joe Sala (public)

Taken Dec 28, 2013 by Krol AS (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − فوريست & كيم ستار (cc-by)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − ستانيسلاف كريجسيك (cc-by)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − ABHIJEET (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ks.mini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − لا روسا (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 11, 2021 by Siva Kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2019 by Francisco Francisco Augusto Schio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Marco Schmidt (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 13, 2008 by EOL − Ahmad Fuad Morad (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ramon FVelasquez (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 1, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Oliveira Vander (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2020 by Kumar c (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2020 by angela de lellis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 7, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:558006-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152707)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Specifications

Growth