WEST INDIAN PEPPER

Far from being a carrot or a pepper, okra with the scientific name Abelmoschus  esculentus of the Malvaceae , is distinguished by its green color and its hexagonal, elongated shape. It is a species of tropical flowering plant native to the African continent, close to the hibiscus according to scientists. Okra or gumbo in English, a corruption of a word borrowed from an African language of Bantu origin , is one of  the most cultivated condiments like tomatoes . Abelmoschus esculentus has several names. It is called: Quimbombó in Cuba, lalo on Reunion Island and Mauritius, calou in Guyana, calalou in Haiti, lady 's finger in several English-speaking countries, okra in Louisiana and in the south of the United States or hibiscus-gumbo in other nations.