Abelmoschus caillei
| Abelmoschus caillei | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Abelmoschus |
| Species: | A. caillei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Abelmoschus caillei | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Abelmoschus caillei, the West African okra, is a plant species in the family Malvaceae. It occurs in humid area of West and Central Africa,[2] where it is used as a vegetable.[3] It originated as an allopolyploid hybrid of Abelmoschus esculentus and A. manihot, and is often mistaken for either of those two plants.[1] The same hybrid was produced experimentally in Japan where it is known as Abelmoschus glutino-textile.
Description
Abelmoschus caillei occurs as an erect and stout herb that is often woody at the base. Its flowers are axillary, with their petals yellow to pink.[1]
Uses
It is consumed as a vegetable in a few ways, with young leaves consumed as spinach, young fruits consumed after being cooked or fried. Its edibility combined with its resistance to yellow vein mosaic virus allows the plant to be commonly cultivated in subsistence farming in high rainfall areas of West Africa.[4] Its leaves also make good cattle feed.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Umberto Quattrocchi (2016). CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (reprint ed.). CRC Press. p. 1. ISBN 9781482250640.
- ^ G. J. H. Grubben, ed. (2004). Vegetables. Plant resources of tropical Africa. Vol. 2. PROTA. p. 26. ISBN 9789057821479.
- ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ K. V. Peter (2007). Underutilized and Underexploited Horticultural Crops. Vol. 2. New India Publishing. p. 216. ISBN 9788189422691.
External links
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