Abelmoschus moschatus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Genus: | Abelmoschus |
Species: | A. moschatus |
Binomial name | |
Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. |
|
Synonyms | |
List
|
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) is an aromatic and medicinal plant native to India in the Malvaceae family.
The seeds have a sweet, flowery, heavy fragrance similar to that of musk (hence its specific epithet , scientific Latin for ‘musk’).
Despite its tropical origin, the plant is frost-hardy.
Musk mallow seed oil was once frequently used as a substitute in perfumes for animal musk; however this use is now mostly replaced by various synthetic musks due to its high cost.
It has many culinary uses. The seeds are added to coffee; unripe pods ("musk okra"), leaves and new shoots are eaten as vegetables.
Different parts of the plant have uses in Ayurveda herbal medicine.
In industry the root mucilage provides sizing for paper; tobacco is sometimes flavoured with the flowers.