Okra is a vegetable native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. The fruit, which grows in long pods, was named for the Okra tribe of Nigeria. The plant is commonly used in West African cuisine and its leaves have been eaten as a vegetable since ancient times.
In the U.S., okra is sometimes referred to as gumbo or gumbo okra because it has a similar texture to the Louisiana vegetable gumbo. However, okra is not related to the gombo. Okra is available year-round and is usually sold fresh in markets in the spring.