Abelmoschus Medik.

Malvaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves palmately lobed or divided (rarely almost entire).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary, axillary or in terminal racemes by reduction of the upper leaves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Epicalyx

Epicalyx of 6–numerous filiform or linear bracteoles or much reduced and very caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx thin, splitting laterally, circumscissile, slightly joined to the base of the corolla and deciduous with it.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube as in Hibiscus.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5-locular, loculi pluriovulate; style not manifestly branched, with 5 sessile or subsessile capitate stigmas.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule elongated, oblong or ellipsoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with minute stellate hairs and sometimes also pilose.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A genus of about 15 species, all native to Malesia, but some species naturalised in the Neotropics, tropical Africa and Pacific islands; two native species in New Guinea (Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. and A. manihot (L.) Medik.) with A. esculentus (L.) Moench. cultivated as a vegetable (okra).

Morphology General Habit

Herbs and shrubs to 5 m

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum often hispid or of bristly hairs

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules usually filiform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Extrafloral nectaries absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, 3–5 lobed, sometimes almost hastate, margins crenate or dentate, venation palmate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 5-merous; epicalyx lobes 4–16, free, usually falling early, calyx bract-like, enclosing flower, splitting on one side at anthesis and falling with corolla; staminal column much shorter than petals, anthers present throughout the column; ovary superior, 5-locular, style with 5 or more stylar branches, stigmas capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 5-valved, ovoid capsule with a pubescent or hispid exocarp

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, reniform, sometimes pubescent.

Ecology

In New Guinea, Abelmoschus is found in secondary vegetation types like roadsides and old gardens and has been collected between sea level and 400 m.

Recognition

Abelmoschus can be recognised by the deeply lobed leaves with toothed margins, the bract-like calyx which splits asymmetrically, the short staminal column and the hairy exterior of the fruit.

Malvaceae, Bernard Verdcourt & Geoffrey Mwachala. Pavonia, B Verdcourt; Kosteletzkya, OJ Blanchard Jr.; Gossypium, P Fryxell & B Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually palmately 3–5-lobed; stipules subulate or linear, deciduous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary or in terminal pseudoracemes due to reduction of the leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Epicalyx

Epicalyx lobes 4–16, free or basally connate, persistent or deciduous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx adnate to corolla, spathaceous, irregularly splitting into 2–5 lobes or teeth during anthesis, circumscissile at base, falling together with the corolla

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, pinkish or yellow with purple centre

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal column with anthers all over

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent, 5-locular, each locule with many ovules

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong-ellipsoid or fusiform-cylindrical, loculicidally dehiscent, remaining attached to receptacle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds reniform, glabrous or hairy.