M. Thulin (1999) Abelmoschus. Flora of Somalia 2: 54-56
Plants annual or perennial herbs, sometimes somwhat shrubby. Leaves stipulate; stipules filiform; blades palmately lobed or divided. Inflorescences of solitary, axillary flowers or in terminal racemes. Epicalyces present but usually soon falling, of 4-many bracts; calyces 5-toothed, splitting on one side during expansion of the corollas, circumscissile at the base, adnate to the corollas and falling with them; ovaries 5-celled; ovules many; styles usually 5-branched. Fruits elongated capsules.
Abelmoschus is a genus of 11 species. Six species are native to Asia, one of which extends to tropical Africa. Somaliland and Somalia have two species, one (Abelmoschus esculentus) being cultivated for its edible fruits.
Note: GBIF records include introduced and cultivated plants. Consequently, the distribution shown often differs from statements about a taxon's native distribution.