Okra is a beautiful, edible, flowering plant that is part of the mallow family (related to cotton, cocoa, and hibiscus) and originated in Africa.
What vegetable is okra related to?
Okra (also known as gumbo), is a tall-growing, warm-season, annual vegetable from the same family as hollyhock, rose of Sharon and hibiscus. The immature pods are used for soups, canning and stews or as a fried or boiled vegetable.
What foods are related to okra?
Okra is a member of the Malvaceae botanical family. This botanical family also consists of cacao, cotton and durian, a fruit grown on trees in Southeast Asia. Okra is a versatile food that can be used fresh, dried or frozen. Prepare by sautéing, roasting, boiling, frying or try pickling it.
What is in the same family as okra?
Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton. The term “okra” most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant. Okra, also known as “lady’s fingers” and “gumbo,” is a green flowering plant. Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton.
What plants are similar to okra?
Botanically speaking, okra is known as Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus. It’s a member of mallow family, related to hollyhocks, rose of Sharon and hibiscus.
Can you be allergic to okra?
A close association between intradermal reactions to okra extracts and complaints of work-related allergic symptoms was seen in these subjects. These results confirm that the okra may be capable of inducing IgE-mediated immediate-type allergy to workers handling okra.
Is okra related to peppers?
While it looks like a ridged pepper, okra belongs to the same family as hibiscus and cotton, and likely came to the U.S. from Africa more than three centuries ago.
How common is okra allergy?
Is okra a common allergen? No. Okra is not a common food allergen, though there have been reports of skin irritation from farm workers handling okra leaves and pods.
Which vegetables are allergic?
There are a number of other vegetables for which allergies have been described including asparagus, avocado, bell pepper, cabbage, carrot, lettuce, potato, pumpkin, turnip and zucchini.
Is okra related to cotton?
Okra and cotton are botanically related
Okra and cotton are both members of the mallow (Malvaceae) family of plants. Southern gardening blogger, Talya Tate Boerner, refers to the two plants as “kissing cousins”.
Is okra related to cactus?
Description. Wall okra is a flowering and fruiting cactus originating from the northern Caribbean, its natural range limited to the islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. The plant consists of slender, succulent green stems that are jointed into segments up to 60 cm (2 ft) long.
What is okra called in English?
ladies’ fingers
Okra or Okro (US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/), Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It has edible green seed pods.
What class of food is okra?
19. It’s a great source of vegetable protein. With 2 grams of protein per cup, okra is an easily-digestible, vegetarian source of filling, fibrous protein.
What are the types of okra?
13 Okra Varieties to Love
- Baby Bubba Hybrid.
- Blondy.
- Burgundy.
- Cajun Delight.
- Clemson Spineless.
- Cow Horn.
- Emerald.
- Go Big.
Is okra related to the rose of Sharon?
Rose of Sharon is not a rose at all, or even distantly related to one. Rather, hibiscus, cotton and okra are its kin — all “Southern” plants, even though some species of hibiscus, like rose of Sharon, are perfectly at home in cold winter weather. They do like sun and hot summers, though.
What are the side effects of okra?
Eating too much okra can adversely affect some people. Gastrointestinal problems: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fructans can cause diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people with existing bowel problems. Kidney stones: Okra is high in oxalates.
What does okra do to the body?
Okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. It’s rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Okra may benefit pregnant women, heart health, and blood sugar control. It may even have anticancer properties.
Why does okra make me itchy?
The above-ground plant structures of okra have prominent hairs or spines. These spines are sharp and contain substances that may produce allergenic skin reactions.
Is okra in the nightshade family?
Blueberries are not nightshades. Okra isn’t a nightshade either.
What type of fruit is an okra?
The fruit of Okra is a capsule which is a simple dry fruit that is dehiscent in nature. A capsule is a multi-chambered and multi seeded fruit that develops from a multicarpellary, syncarpous superior ovary which means that there are 2-3 carpels present fused together.
Why is okra called ladies finger?
The slave owners must have become curious about these green pods, so elegantly shaped they would be called ladies fingers.