Kabasi
Abelmoschus manihot var. pungens

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 15 Abelmoschus species. They are tropical and subtropical.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows on open grassy slopes in India between 1000-1500 m altitude. In southern China between 1,000-1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Himalayas, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The long tuberous roots are sweet and are eaten. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bup mi, Gang mao huang, shu, kui, Kaldha

Synonyms

Abelmoschus multilobus Merr.; Abelmoschus pungens (Roxb.) Wall. ex Voigt; Abelmoschus vriesianus (Hassk.) Hassk.; Hibiscus manihot var. pungens Roxb.; Hibiscus pungens Roxb.; Hibiscus vriesianus Hassk.;