Abelmoschus moschatus

Abelmoschus moschatus (Abelmosk, ambrette, annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, muskdana, musk mallow,[2] musk okra,[2] ornamental okra, rose mallow, tropical jewel hibiscus,[2] Yorka okra) is an aromatic and medicinal plant in the family Malvaceae native to Asia and Australia.[2]

Abelmoschus moschatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species:
A. moschatus
Binomial name
Abelmoschus moschatus
Synonyms[1]
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.

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.

In her 1705 book the Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Maria Sibylla Merian described how the young indigenous women would string the seeds on threads and wear the seeds as decoration on their arms. She also indicated that the Indigenous people used the seeds to fatten up their chickens.[3]

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.

Medicinal uses

Different parts of the plant have uses in Ayurveda herbal medicine, including as an antispasmodic and to treat gonorrhea.[4] However, use may result in phytophotodermatitis and it has not been proven safe for use during pregnancy and lactation.[5]

Other uses

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

References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  2. "Abelmoschus moschatus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  3. Merian, Maria Sibylla (1705). Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. Amsterdam. pp. Plate 42.
  4. L. D. Kapoor (2000). Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants: Herbal Reference Library. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780849329296.
  5. "Wellness Library:Ambrette (Abelmoschus moschatus)". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  • Brown, Deni (1995). The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of herbs & their uses. London: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7513-0203-1.
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