okra Also known as gumbo, bamya, bamies, and ladies' fingers; edible seed pods of Hibiscus esculentus. Small ridged mucilaginous pods resembling a small cucumber, grown in south America, the West Indies, and India; used in soups and stews. There are two varieties: gomba are oblong, bamya are round. A 100‐g portion (raw) is a rich source of vitamin C; a good source of calcium; a source of carotene (500 μg), vitamin B₁, and folate; contains 4 g of dietary fibre; supplies 30 kcal (125 kJ).

o·kra / ˈōkrə/ • n. a plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) of the mallow family with long ridged seedpods, native to the Old World tropics. ∎  the immature seedpods of this plant eaten as a vegetable and also used to thicken soups and stews. Also called gumbo.

okra (gumbo) Annual tropical plant with red-centred yellow flowers. The green fruit pods are edible. Height: 0.6–1.8m (2–6ft). Family Malvaceae; species Hibiscus esculentus

okra See HIBISCUS.