Kasturi venda (Abelmoschus moschatus)

Common name: 

English:

Musk Mallow,

Musk okra

Malayalam:

Kasturi venda,

Latha kasturi,

Kattu kasturi.  

Sanskrit:

Latha kasturika

Tamil:

Vettrilai kasturi

Telugu:

Kasturibhenda

Botanical name:

Abelmoschus moschatus

Family:

Malvaceae

             This plant is close relative of Okra, native to India, Valued for its scented seeds, It is an erect, annual herb with reflexed, reddish hairs on the stems, 50-180cm height.

Leaves:

Hairy, Alternate, 3-5 lobed, cordate at the base.

Flowers:

Large, hibiscus like, Yellow in colour with purple centres.

Fruits:

Edible, hairy capsule, 6-8 cm long and ovoid-cylindrical.

Seeds small, kidney shaped, dark in colour and musky-scented.

Medicinal properties:

Tender fruits are used as stimulant and used as a home remedy for mouth ulcers.

The seeds are bitter, sweet, aromatic, cooling, cardio tonic, digestive, improves digestion and appetite, constipating,antispasmodic, deodorant, insecticidal and tonic.

Foot note:

The generic name Abelmoschus is derived from Arabic ‘abu-l-mosk’ (father of musk) in reference to the smell of the seeds. It denotes the characteristics of the seeds ie, ‘musk smelling’.