Bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a warm season, annual or perennial vegetable, growing up to 2 m height. The leaves are 10 to 20 cm long and broad, and palmately lobed with 5 to 7 lobes. Flowers develop in the leaf axil and are large, 4 to 8 cm in diameter, with five white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal. Each flower blooms for only one day and eventually forms the pod. The pod is a long capsule, 5 to 20 cm long, yellow, red or green in colour, generally ribbed and fuzzy, and contains numerous seeds.
Abelmoschus esculentus, commonly known as okra or lady's finger or bhindi, is a warm season flowering plant belonging to the familyMalvaceae, and cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world for its edible green fruits.The word Abelmoschus is derived from the Arabic "abu-l-mosk" meaning 'father of musk', referring to the musk-scented seeds and Latin word "esculentus" meaning 'edible'.