okra abelmoschus esculentus or lady fingersis a flowering plant in the mallow family native to east africa.

abelmoschus africa alleviate americas annual atlantic bast climates composites cooked countries cuisines cultivated developing east eaten edible esculentus family featured fibre fingersis flowering food green growing gumbo included industrial insecurity introduced lady louisiana mallow malnutrition may metres mitigate mucilaginous native okra perennial pickled plant plying pods polymer raw regions reinforcement salads seed ships slave soup species stem subtropical temperate trade tropical used warm world