species: Abelmoschus manihot
common name: ornamental okra
family: Malvaceae
where & when encountered: Old Westbury, NY - 2013
Ornamental okra is a close relative of edible okra, Abelmoschus esculentus. The name "okra" is of Nigerian origin, and the native range of these plants spans the entire Old World tropics. While the species shown here is primarily ornamental, their leaves are widely consumed as a vegetable in Fiji.
Hmmmmm..... the flowers almost look more appetizing for consumption than the leaves.
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