A few years ago, I told Son that I wanted to move a wild okra plant from one place to another. These things are notoriously prickly and digging one was going to be quite a chore. He assured me that he would do it and, true to his word, he did. My wild okra plant is now just beyond the grape arbor and has grown to be a small bush instead of the spindly plant. It bloomed profusely this year as have the cultivated okra plants in the garden. It seems that both types really love this muggy, rainy weather we have been having for the past few months.
Thinking about the wild okra and its gorgeous blossoms, I had to start pondering about the origin of the plant. It seems that this is quite unsettled with several places laying claim to the plant. Africa, South Asia and Ethiopia all say the plant hails from their region. Some say it was brought to islands in the Caribbean and then to the Americas. Whichever place saw the first plant, we should thank them! The much maligned plant and its edible seed pod is actually almost a wonder plant. (Yes, even the wild plants make edible pods. They are just smaller and tougher than the cultivated types.) The entire plant is edible with the leaves sometimes used in salads.
It seems that eating okra can help heal the body in quite a number of ways. The slimy pod is a great fiber source which is good for the stomach and intestines. It can be used as an intestinal cleansing agent and as a possible cure for acid reflux. The same slimy properties seem to help heal ulcers and other intestinal abrasions. Okra curbs the absorption of sugars which helps to stabilize blood sugars. A decoction made from the leaves can help with respiratory problems such as pneumonia. The gooey, slimy mucous can even be used to help scalp and hair problems!
Now I am not professing that you should run out on the side of the road and harvest any wild okra you may see. That, my friends, may just get you in a bit of trouble with property owners. Perhaps you should grow some cultivated type okra in your gardens and leave the wild ones just as they are. It is nice to see their beautiful blooms and, also, nice to steer clear of their prickly leaves and stalks!
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