Abelmoschus

Medikus

Malvenfam., 45. 1787.

Introduced
Etymology: Presumably Arabic habb-el-misk, musk seed, alluding to scented seeds
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 219. Mentioned on page 187, 216, 218, 220.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA6 P24 Waltheria detonsa.jpegWaltheria detonsa
Abelmoschus esculentus
Abutilon hypoleucum
Linny Heagy
Linny Heagy
Linny Heagy

Herbs, annual [perennial], [subshrubs], glabrate to densely hairy, often harshly so. Stems not hairy. x = 29, 30, 33, 34, 36.

Distribution

Introduced; Fla., s, se Asia, Africa, sw Pacific Islands, Australia, nearly worldwide, often becoming naturalized, especially in tropical and subtropical regions

Discussion

Species 6+ (1 in the flora).

Abelmoschus is a segregate of Hibiscus; it is unique in calyx characters among others. Conservative interpretations of Abelmoschus recognize six species; many others have been named.

In addition to Abelmoschus esculentus, A. manihot (Linnaeus) Medikus and A. moschatus Medikus are cultivated as ornamentals in North America and may occasionally escape. The leaves of Abelmoschus are edible; the seeds of A. moschatus have a musk odor and yield ambrette, an oil used in perfumery.

... more about "Abelmoschus"
David M. Bates +
Medikus +
asymmetric +  and symmetric +
dissected +, lobed +  and unlobed +
indehiscent +  and loculicidal +
Fla. +, s +, se Asia +, Africa +, sw Pacific Islands +, Australia +, nearly worldwide +, often becoming naturalized +  and especially in tropical and subtropical regions +
sparse;copious +
Presumably Arabic habb-el-misk, musk seed, alluding to scented seeds +
pistillate +  and staminate +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
axillary +  and terminal +
tough-fibrous +
connate +  and distinct +
simple +, stipulate +, sessile +, subsessile +  and petiolate +
distichous +  and alternate +
entire +  and serrate +
wedge--shaped +
3-40-carpellate +
(1-)2-many +
adnate +  and distinct +
Malvenfam., +
bates1968a +
hairy +  and glabrous +
reniform +
persistent +
Introduced +
sessile +  and subsessile +
filiform +, linear +  and capitate +
1-2 times number of carpels +
unbranched +  and branched +
Mallow +
Abelmoschus +
Malvaceae subfam. Malvoideae +
glabrate +  and densely hairy +
monoecious +, dioecious +  and hermaphroditic +
36 +, 34 +, 33 +, 30 +  and 29 +