Nice bunch o' plants that supply
us with lots of goodies. This family includes: cotton, the mallows (including marshmallow), hollyhocks, hibiscus, okra,
kanaf and the abutilons.
Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
This is a relatively easily grown annual.
Love it or hate it, when most people hear the word 'okra' they think of the immature pod whether breaded and
fried fried, pickled, or in stews and gumbos.
In this low desert Malva neglecta grows almost year round. It's considered a weed so it gets no special treatment. Season
of germination seems to determine form (warning, untested hypothesis, more later). If it germinates in fall it will grow through
the winter and can become tall(4ft)otherwise it's a low mat.
