Abelmosk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abelmosk
Scientific classification
Genus:	Abelmoschus
Species:	moschatus
Synonyms
List Abelmoschus abelmoschus (L.) H.Karst. nom. inval. Abelmoschus betulifolia Wall. Abelmoschus chinensis Wall. Abelmoschus ciliaris Walp. Abelmoschus cryptocarpus Walp. Abelmoschus cubensis Walp. Abelmoschus cucurbitaceus Walp. Abelmoschus haenkeanus C.Presl Abelmoschus marianus C.Presl Abelmoschus palustris Walp. Abelmoschus pseudoabelmoschus (Blume) Walp. Abelmoschus roseus Walp. Abelmoschus sublobatus C.Presl Hibiscus abelmoschus L. Hibiscus collinsianus Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray Hibiscus moschatus (Medik.) Salisb.

Abelmoschus moschatus (Abelmosk, ambrette, annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, muskdana, musk mallow, musk okra, ornamental okra, rose mallow, tropical jewel hibiscus, Yorka okra) is an aromatic and medicinal plant in the family Malvaceae native to Asia and Australia.

Characteristics

The seeds have a sweet, flowery, heavy fragrance similar to that of musk (hence its specific epithet moschātus, scientific Latin for ‘musk’).

Despite its tropical origin, the plant is frost-hardy.

Uses of the plant

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.

Culinary uses

It has many culinary uses. The seeds are added to coffee; unripe pods ("musk okra"), leaves and new shoots are eaten as vegetables.

Other uses

In industry the root mucilage provides sizing for paper; tobacco is sometimes flavoured with the flowers.

See also

In Spanish: Abelmoschus moschatus para niños