Okra - wikipedia Okra For other uses, see Okra ( disambiguation ). Okra Okra plant with mature and developing fruits in Hong Kong Okra in longitudinal section Scientific classification Kingdom : Plantae Clade : Angiosperms Clade : Eudicots Clade : Rosids Order : Malvales Family : Malvaceae Genus : Abelmoschus Species : A. esculentus Binomial name Abelmoschus esculentus ( L. ) Moench Worldwide okra production Synonyms Abelmoschus bammia Webb Abelmoschus longifolius ( Willd. ) Kostel. Abelmoschus officinalis ( DC. ) Endl. Abelmoschus praecox Sickenb. Abelmoschus tuberculatus Pal & Singh Hibiscus esculentus L. Hibiscus hispidissimus A. Chev. nom. illeg. Hibiscus longifolius Willd. Hibiscus praecox Forssk. Okra or okro ( US : / ˈoʊkrə / or UK : / ˈɒkrə / ), known in many English - speaking countries as ladies ' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of West African, Ethiopian, and South Asian origins. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world. Contents 1 Vernacular names in English - speaking nations 2 Origin and distribution 3 Botany and cultivation 4 Food 4.1 Nutrition 4.2 Leaves and seeds 5 Bast fibre 6 References 7 External links Vernacular names in English - speaking nations The name okra is most often used in the UK, United States and the Philippines, with a variant pronunciation in Caribbean English and Nigeria of okro. The word okra is from the Igbo ọ́kụ̀rụ̀. The plant and its seed pods are also known as `` lady 's fingers ''. In various Bantu languages, okra is called ( ki ) ngombo or a variant, and this is possibly the origin of the name `` gumbo '', used in parts of the United States and the English - speaking Caribbean ( via Portuguese quingombo ). Origin and distribution Whole plant Okra is an allopolyploid of uncertain parentage ( proposed parents include Abelmoschus ficulneus, A. tuberculatus and a reported `` diploid '' form of okra ). Truly wild ( as opposed to naturalised ) populations are not known with certainty and the species may be a cultigen. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. Supporters of a South Asian origin point to the presence of its proposed parents in that region. Supporters of a West African origin point to the greater diversity of okra in that region. The Egyptians and Moors of the 12th and 13th centuries used the Arabic word for the plant, bamya, suggesting it had come into Egypt from Arabia, but earlier it was probably taken from Ethiopia to Arabia. The plant may have entered southwest Asia across the Red Sea or the Bab - el - Mandeb straight to the Arabian Peninsula, rather than north across the Sahara, or from India. One of the earliest accounts is by a Spanish Moor who visited Egypt in 1216 and described the plant under cultivation by the locals who ate the tender, young pods with meal. From Arabia, the plant spread around the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and eastward. The plant was introduced to the Americas by ships plying the Atlantic slave trade by 1658, when its presence was recorded in Brazil. It was further documented in Suriname in 1686. Okra may have been introduced to southeastern North America from Africa in the early 18th century. By 1748, it was being grown as far north as Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson noted it was well established in Virginia by 1781. It was commonplace throughout the Southern United States by 1800, and the first mention of different cultivars was in 1806. Botany. and cultivation Okra Okra plain curry made in a house of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada Okra flower, close - up The species is a perennial, often cultivated as an annual in temperate climates, and often grows to around 2 metres ( 6.6 ft ) tall. It is related to such species as cotton, cocoa, and hibiscus. The leaves are 10 -- 20 centimetres ( 3.9 -- 7.9 in ) long and broad, palmately lobed with 5 -- 7 lobes. The flowers are 4 -- 8 centimetres ( 1.6 -- 3.1 in ) in diameter, with five white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal. The fruit is a capsule up to 18 centimetres ( 7.1 in ) long with pentagonal cross-section, containing numerous seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus is cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world for its fibrous fruits or pods containing round, white seeds. It is among the most heat - and drought - tolerant vegetable species in the world and will tolerate soils with heavy clay and intermittent moisture, but frost can damage the pods. In cultivation, the seeds are soaked overnight prior to planting to a depth of 1 -- 2 centimetres ( 0.39 -- 0.79 in ). Germination occurs between six days ( soaked seeds ) and three weeks. Seedlings require ample water. The seed pods rapidly become fibrous and woody and, to be edible as a vegetable, must be harvested when immature, usually within a week after pollination. Okra is available in two varieties, green and red. Red okra carries the same flavor as the more popular green okra and differs only in color. When cooked, the red okra pods turn green. The most common disease afflicting the okra plant is verticillium wilt, often causing a yellowing and wilting of the leaves. Other diseases include powdery mildew in dry tropical regions, leaf spots, and root - knot nematodes. Food Okra, raw Nutritional value per 100 g ( 3.5 oz ) Energy 138 kJ ( 33 kcal ) Carbohydrates 7.45 g Sugars 1.48 g Dietary fiber 3.2 g Fat 0.19 g Protein 1.9 g Vitamins Vitamin A equiv. ( 5 % ) 36 μg Thiamine ( B1 ) ( 17 % ) 0.2 mg Riboflavin ( B2 ) ( 5 % ) 0.06 mg Niacin ( B3 ) ( 7 % ) 1 mg Folate ( B9 ) ( 15 % ) 60 μg Vitamin C ( 28 % ) 23 mg Vitamin E ( 2 % ) 0.27 mg Vitamin K ( 30 % ) 31.3 μg Minerals Calcium ( 8 % ) 82 mg Iron ( 5 % ) 0.62 mg Magnesium ( 16 % ) 57 mg Phosphorus ( 9 % ) 61 mg Potassium ( 6 % ) 299 mg Zinc ( 6 % ) 0.58 mg Other constituents Water 89.6 g Link to Full USDA Database entry Units μg = micrograms mg = milligrams IU = International units Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Raw okra slices The products of the plant are mucilaginous, resulting in the characteristic `` goo '' or slime when the seed pods are cooked ; the mucilage contains soluble fiber. Pods are cooked, pickled, eaten raw, or included in salads. Okra may be used in developing countries to mitigate malnutrition and alleviate food insecurity. Nutrition. Raw okra is 90 % water, 2 % protein, 7 % carbohydrates and negligible in fat ( table ). In a 100 gram amount, raw okra is rich ( 20 % or more of the Daily Value, DV ) in dietary fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K, with moderate contents of thiamin, folate and magnesium ( table ). Leaves and seeds Stir fried okra with diced chili peppers Okra bloom with seed pods Okra leaves may be cooked in a similar way to the greens of beets or dandelions. The leaves are also eaten raw in salads. Okra seeds may be roasted and ground to form a caffeine - free substitute for coffee. When importation of coffee was disrupted by the American Civil War in 1861, the Austin State Gazette said, `` An acre of okra will produce seed enough to furnish a plantation with coffee in every way equal to that imported from Rio. '' Greenish - yellow edible okra oil is pressed from okra seeds ; it has a pleasant taste and odor, and is high in unsaturated fats such as oleic acid and linoleic acid. The oil content of some varieties of the seed is about 40 %. At 794 kg / ha, the yield was exceeded only by that of sunflower oil in one trial. A 1920 study found that a sample contained 15 % oil. A 2009 study found okra oil suitable for use as a biofuel. Bast fibre Bast fibre from the stem of the plant has industrial uses. References Jump up ^ `` The Plant List : A Working List of All Plant Species ''. Retrieved 3 October 2014. Jump up ^ National Research Council ( 2006 - 10 - 27 ). `` Okra ''. Lost Crops of Africa : Volume II : Vegetables. Lost Crops of Africa. 2. National Academies Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 309 - 10333 - 6. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 15. Jump up ^ Harper, Douglas. `` okra ''. Online Etymology Dictionary. Jump up ^ McWhorter, John H. ( 2000 ). The Missing Spanish Creoles : Recovering the Birth of Plantation Contact Languages. University of California Press. p. 77. ISBN 0 - 520 - 21999 - 6. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Alternative Cold Remedies : Lady 's Fingers Plant '', curing-colds.com ( accessed 3 June 2009 ) Archived May 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` gumbo ''. Oxford English Dictionary ( 1st ed. ). Oxford University Press. 1933. ^ Jump up to : `` Okra, or ' Gumbo, ' from Africa, tamu.edu Jump up ^ `` Okra gumbo and rice '' Archived 2005 - 10 - 28 at the Wayback Machine. by Sheila S. Walker, The News Courier, unknown date Jump up ^ `` Okra Seed '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 2012 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Red Okra Information, Recipes and Facts ''. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Growing okra ''. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012. ^ Jump up to : Gemede, H.F. ; Haki, G.D. ; Beyene, F ; Woldegiorgis, A.Z. ; Rakshit, S.K. ( 2015 ). `` Proximate, mineral, and antinutrient compositions of indigenous Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) pod accessions : Implications for mineral bioavailability ''. Food Science & Nutrition. 4 ( 2 ) : 223 -- 33. doi : 10.1002 / fsn3. 282. PMC 4779480. PMID 27004112. Jump up ^ network.com : Okra Greens and Corn Saute Archived 2007 - 10 - 15 at the Wayback Machine., M.S. Milliken & S. Feniger, 1996 Jump up ^ Austin State Gazette ( TEX. ), November 9, 1861, p. 4, c. 2, copied in Confederate Coffee Substitutes : Articles from Civil War Newspapers Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., University of Texas at Tyler Jump up ^ Martin, Franklin W. ( 1982 ). `` Okra, Potential Multiple - Purpose Crop for the Temperate Zones and Tropics ''. Economic Botany. 36 ( 3 ) : 340 -- 345. doi : 10.1007 / BF02858558. Jump up ^ Mays, D.A., W. Buchanan, B.N. Bradford, and P.M. Giordano ( 1990 ). `` Fuel production potential of several agricultural crops ''. Advances in New Crops : 260 -- 263. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Jamieson, George S. ; Baughman, Walter F. ( 1920 ). `` Okra Seed Oil. 1 ''. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 42 : 166. doi : 10.1021 / ja01446a023. Jump up ^ Farooq, Anwar ; Umer Rashid ; Muhammad Ashraf ; Muhammad Nadeem ( March 2010 ). `` Okra ( Hibiscus esculentus ) seed oil for biodiesel production ''. Applied Energy. 87 ( 3 ) : 779 -- 785. doi : 10.1016 / j. apenergy. 2009.09. 020. Jump up ^ De Rosa, I.M. ; Kenny, J.M. ; Puglia, D. ; Santulli, C. ; Sarasini, F. ( 2010 ). `` Morphological, thermal and mechanical characterization of okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) fibres as potential reinforcement in polymer composites ''. Composites Science and Technology. 70 ( 1 ) : 116 -- 122. doi : 10.1016 / j. compscitech. 2009.09. 013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abelmoschus esculentus. Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe / module on Okra Look up okra in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Abelmoschus esculentus in West African plants -- A Photo Guide. Food portal Taxon identifiers Wd : Q80531 APDB : 166536 ARKive : abelmoschus - esculentus EoL : 584458 EPPO : ABMES FNA : 200013666 FoC : 200013666 GBIF : 3152707 GRIN : 619 IPNI : 558006 - 1 ITIS : 21770 NCBI : 455045 Plant List : kew - 2609574 PLANTS : ABES Tropicos : 19601060 GND : 4329665 - 8 NDL : 00568807 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Okra&oldid=833011833 '' Categories : Igbo words and phrases Abelmoschus Asian vegetables Tropical agriculture Medicinal plants of Africa Fiber plants Pod vegetables Soul food Crops originating from Africa Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Articles with ' species ' microformats Articles containing Igbo - language text Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies አማርኛ Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская भोजपुरी Bikol Central Български Català Cebuano Čeština ChiShona Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego ગુજરાતી 한국어 Hausa Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ಕನ್ನಡ ქართული Қазақша Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Kurdî Кырык мары Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Lingála Македонски മലയാളം मराठी مصرى Bahasa Melayu မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands नेपाली 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk ଓଡ଼ିଆ Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی پښتو Polski Português Română Русский संस्कृतम् Shqip සිංහල Simple English سنڌي Slovenščina کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் తెలుగు ไทย ತುಳು Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Winaray 粵語 中文 Kabɩyɛ 82 more Edit links This page was last edited on 29 March 2018, at 05 : 33. 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Question: what is the botanical name of lady finger
Answer: Abelmoschus esculentus