Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.

Herb or suffrutex, the stem somewhat woody below, up to about 3 m high, hirsute with long, mostly simple, spreading or retrorse, whitish hairs. Leaves with the petiole up to 15 cm long, spreading-or retrorse-hirsute, the stipules subulate, 6-8 mm long, hirsute; blade usually circular or subcircular in outline and up to 20 cm long and 24 cm broad, cordate or sagittate at the base, prominently 5-angulate to usually 3-or 5-palmatilobed or-fid, the segments from deltoid toi narrowly oblong-ovate, with the sinuses usually rounded, acute to long-acuminate at the apex, coarsely serrate to serrate-dentate or infrequently nearly entire at the margin, 5-or 7-palminerved, appressed-hirsute and with the venation prominent on both sides. Flowers solitary in the uppermost leaf axils, long-pedicellate, the pedicel terete, enlarged near the apex, up to 4 cm long, thickened and up to 10 cm long in fruit, spreading-or usually retrose-hirsute; epicalyx bractlets 8-10, very narrowly ovate, acute, 10-17 mm long and 1-2.5 mm broad, long-ciliate, persistent; calyx 2-3.5 cm long, 5-dentate and with the teeth up to 5 mm long, 15-nerved, appressed-hirtellous; petals asymmetrical, rounded at the apex, (4-)7-8 cm long, yellow with a dark purple spot at the base; staminal tube about 1/4-1/3 as long as the corolla; styles exceeding slightly the staminal tube. Capsule ovoid, acuminate, 5-7 cm long and 2-3 cm in diam, appressed-hispid; seeds globose-reniform, ca 3-4 mm long, the testa striate.

A tropical plant. It suits tropical climates but can grow in cooler places. It needs a rich well-drained soil in a sunny position. Tolerates a pH in the range 6 to 7.8. In China is grows on flat areas and beside streams in S China. It needs a temperature above 5°C. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

The root tuber is eaten roasted. The young leaves are eaten cooked. They are used in soups. The leaves are used to clarify sugar. The seeds are used for flavouring. The are used to flavour bread, stews, and liqueurs. They can be chewed to sweeten the breath. The unripe pods are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are the source of an essential oil used to flavour baked goods, ice cream, soft drinks and sweets.

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seed germinates best at a temperature around 24°C. Seed can be sown direct or transplanted. Cuttings can be used. Plants should be cut back to allow new shoots to develop.