Abelmoschus moschatus

Grown in Herbal Garden, Punjabi Bagh and Herbal Garden of Hamdard University, both in Delhi

This is growing on our terrace. Not source about the source of the seed. Would like to know if it is edible Okra?

Check for fleshy root.

To me it is either Abelmoschus manihot or Abelmoschus moschatus. In case of Abelmoschus moschatus, the dry seeds on rubbing emits smell of musk (that’s why it is known as MUSK MALLOW ). … can try the seeds. I did it myself at Tezpur (assam),in 2001-2002, and it works. In case there is no smell of musk from the rubbed seeds, the species is likely to be Abelmoschus manihot

Abelmoschus manihot is out of race because it has only 4-5 epicalyx lobes which are very broad (4-5 mm broad). Here atleast six can be counted and they are linear. A. moschatus and A. sagittifolius are very closely related (and sometimes treated synonyms), differing in 5-7 lobed leaves in former and 3-5 lobed and sagitate in latter. Also plants are hispid in former, simply pubescent in latter, except epicalyx, and root swollen in latter. It fits more with latter.

After getting the information I had gone to the site and collected the fruit and seed but couldn’t dig out the root. When I observed and rubbing the dry seed as you said, I got the same result. I also found same observations about the seed as described in the Flora of China i.e. seeds are black-brown, reniform, concentrically ribbed, with musk smell. 

Malvaceae Fortnight- Post 56 :: Abelmoschus sp. from Nauni: NS August 41/41  : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)

Abelmoschus species in eFloraofindia (with details/ keys from published papers/ regional floras/ FRLHT/ FOI/ Biotik/ efloras/ books etc., where ever available on net)  

Please provide plant height, number of epicalyx segments, mature fruit length so that specific identity can be confirmed. My guess is Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.

For me the ID looks good.

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