Botanical.com Home Page Botanical: Hibiscus Abelmoschus (LINN.)
---Synonyms---Abelmoschus Moschatus. Semen Abelmoschi. Grana
Moschata. Ambretta. Egyptian Alcée. Bisornkorner. Ambrakorner.
Target-leaved Hibiscus. Ab-elmosch. Bamia Moschata. Ketmie
odorante. Galu gasturi. Capu kanassa. Family: N.O. Malvaceae
---Habitat---Egypt, East and West Indies. ---Description---This
evergreen shrub is about 4 feet in height, having alternate,
palmate leaves and large, sulphur yellow, solitary flowers with
a purple base. The capsules are in the form of a five-cornered
pyramid, filled with large seeds with a strong odour of musk.
The capsules are used in soup and for pickles, and the greyish-
brown, kidney-shaped seeds, the size of a lentil, with a strong
aromatic flavour, are used by the Arabians to mix with coffee.
They are used in perfumery for fats and oils, and for the
adulteration of musk. ---Constituents---The seeds contain an
abundance of fixed oil, and owe their scent to a coloured resin
and a volatile, odorous body.