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Abelmoschus crinitus

Wall.

Hairy okra

Malvaceae Edible: Roots, Tubers, Fruit, Vegetable

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(c) Amelia Ryan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Amelia Ryan

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Wikimedia Commons - Lindley

wikimedia· cc0

Wikimedia Commons - Curtis, Charles M.; Drake, S. A.; Gorachaud.; Treuttel and Würtz.; Vishnupersaud.; Wallich, N.

Abelmoschus crinitus is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family. It was first described by Nathaniel Wallich in 1830.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Edible Uses

The tuberous roots are roasted and eaten. Young fruits are eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The tuberous roots are eaten. They are roasted. The young fruit are eaten raw and also cooked as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are used in the treatment of dysentery.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland areas subject to seasonal dry periods. In China it grows on grass slopes between 300-1300 m altitude in S China. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Abelmoschus crinitus is a lowland tropical species, usually restricted to areas subject to a pronounced dry season

Other Uses

Abelmoschus crinitus is a tertiary genetic relative of, and potential gene donor to okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. Alongside other wild Abelmoschus species, it carries complete resistance to yellow vein mosaic virus

Other Information

Cultivated. They are enjoyed by children.

Notes

There are about 15 Abelmoschus species. They are tropical and subtropical.

Synonyms

Abelmoschus cancellatus Wall. ex VoigtAbelmoschus fusiformis Wall.Abelmoschus hainanensis HuAbelmoschus racemosus Wall.Bamia cancellatus Wall.? Hibiscus bodinieri H. Lev.Hibiscus cancellatus Roxb. ex G. Don [Illegitimate]Hibiscus cavaleriei H. Lev.Hibiscus crinitus (Wallich) G.DonHibiscus fusiformus Steud.

Also Known As

Banbhindi, Bhedi-kandda, Bup toc, Chao mao huang kui, Gasam sanga, Gorkrakanda, Jangli bhindi, Pahadi-bendi, Taw-wah

References (13)

  • Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 1
  • Behera, K. K. et al, 2008, Wild Edible Plants of Mayurbhanj District, Orissa, India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. Vol. 32 (Suppl,) pp 305-314
  • Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
  • Jadhav, R., et al, 2015, Forest Foods of Northern Western Ghats: Mode of Consumption, Nutrition and Availability. Asian Agri-History Vol. 19, No. 4: 293-317
  • Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 2
Show all 13 references
  • Misra, R. C., et al, 2013, Genetic resources of wild tuberous food plants traditionally used in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Vol. 60 No. 2. Springer
  • Misra, S., 2020, Survey of edible plants for human consumption in south Odisha, India. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) Vol. 7, Issue 12 p 277
  • Pl. asiat. rar. 1:39, t. 44. 1830
  • PROSEA handbook Volume 9 Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. p165
  • Saxena, H. O., 1986, Observations on the Ethnobotany of Madhya Pradesh. Bull. Bot. Surv. India. Vol. 28. Nos 1-4 pp 149-156
  • Singh, H.B., Arora R.K., 1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 11
  • Tang ya, Malvaceae. Flora of China. p
  • Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 50 (As Hibiscus cancellatus)

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