The origin of okra

Okra is originally grown in Africa, Egypt and Antigua and Barbados in the Caribbean. It is one of the favorite vegetables for people in Africa, America and Southeast Asia. China was introduced from India and has been planted for about 60 years. There is a small amount of cultivation around cities all over the country, mostly in southern cities.

Okra is an annual herb, the root is a straight root, the main root is well developed, deeply buried in the soil. Stem erect, highly Lignified, cylindrical, 1-2 m high, with lateral branches, green or dark purple, coarsely hairy. Leaves alternate, usually palmately 5-7-parted, 6-15 cm in diameter, lobes lanceolate to triangular, margin irregularly serrate, occasionally lobed, base cordate, both surfaces sparsely hirsute.

Okra petiole slender to 7-15 cm, sparsely hirsute. Stipules linear, 7-8 mm long. Above the third node of the main stem, except for lateral branches, each node has 1 flower, bisexual, yellow, calyx and petal lattice five, flowers solitary in leaf axils, pedicels 2-3 cm long, oblong hirsute; bracteoles 8-10, linear, 10-13 mm long; calyx spathelike, 2-3 cm long, 5-lobed, often caducous; flowers yellow, inner base dark purple, 7cm in diameter; staminal column ca. 2.5 cm long, smooth glabrous Style branched 5, stigma discoid, flowers often open at 8-9 am and wither in the afternoon.

Okra capsule oblong, 5-6 cm long, tip pointed, covered with yellow hirsute; seeds reniform, with glandular veins, fragrant. The florescence is from June to October.