Abelmoschus manihot Linn (forum)

AL starts with ...
Hi,
Anyone know where to get this in Sydney NSW? It's a member of the hibiscus family and leaves, buds and roots a very nutritious.

Also known as BELE in the Pacific Islands.
See the picture, incase it "rings a bell".

Thanks....
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 26th May 2008 10:52pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author AL1
sydney NSW
#UserID: 982
Posts: 2
View All AL1's Edible Fruit Trees

trikus says...
I have this growing , or a very similar species . The mature leaf is more palmate on mine .. It is flowering now , so some seeds may be available . But it is usually propagated by cuttings . Mature leaves are very hairy and not good to eat unless cooked very well . Tiny new tips are best , and harvesting these make for a more bushy plant with more tips available.
Late for work or I would go out and take a picture .. Will post one om Monday . Thisa is a very interting family of perrenial edibles with a few spp. involved.

Time: 1st June 2008 8:37am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees

AL says...
Thanks for the info, where is this available in Sydney ?

Time: 2nd June 2008 9:32pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author AL1
sydney NSW
#UserID: 982
Posts: 2
View All AL1's Edible Fruit Trees

Kath says...
Hi Trikus, do you recognise this species? I am wondering if it may be Abelmoschus moschatus.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 6th July 2008 8:44am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Kath
Cawongla
#UserID: 2
Posts: 363
View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees

trikus says...
Mine is flowering also , and looks very much like yours Kath .. but this one is not the best eating ,its very prickly , and only the tiny tips are edible raw , older leaves must be cooked very well . There are many different types of these . The better ones are smooth and dark green and easily eaten raw . Will try and get some good pics tomorrow

Time: 8th July 2008 9:33pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees

trikus says...
Very little information about these plants online ,, I am thinking mine might be the cannabis foliage form ,, I know the police gave me a dirty look as they drove past one day ,, [it is growing right near the road in my front yard] It is horrible eating , I am hoping to get a better tasting species soon . It may set seed as it is covered in flowers ,, loking at the different species on wikipedia , they all seem the same !
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 10th July 2008 12:22pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees

trikus says...
View from the road of the shrub , right next to my Malay Apple .. that has grown from a 50 cm seedling to this near 4m monster in less than 2 years .
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 14th July 2008 10:52am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees

Anonymous says...
Did you find the bele tree?

Swaran

Time: 26th November 2008 9:15pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author 57
NSW
#UserID: 1688
Posts: 1
View All 57's Edible Fruit Trees

shalen says...
hi i want to grow this plant. can anyone give me information where to buy this plant

Time: 12th October 2009 1:15pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author shalen
seven hilld
#UserID: 2894
Posts: 1
View All shalen's Edible Fruit Trees

trikus says...
Seeds & cuttings from this plant avail. on ebay .

Time: 12th October 2009 2:40pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Trikus
Tully
#UserID: 930
Posts: 749
View All Trikus's Edible Fruit Trees

Diana says...
Hi all,

I have been in the rural Solomon Islands a couple of weeks ago. All of the leafy vegetables we ate there were really tasty (and all the food was). I think sliperi kabis is supposed to be Abelmoschus manihot, but it was much nicer there than the variety I have at home, sourced from northey st city farm nursery I think (aibika- which is still quite OK). Also it looked different there- red stems, narrow leaves and bushy habit, not like mine with a tall tree-like habit, light brown stem and large heart shaped leaves (pictures next to a guava, and next to pineapples where people are drying washing). Does anyone know if the Solomons one is actually Abelmoschus manihot, and is there any choice of varieties in Australia?

The other thing I wondered about is- what is the light green marrow-like thing between the betel nut and the red cooking bananas at the market? Locally it is called a bean. It may be a bean the same way that new guinea bean is (a marrow that tastes a bit like bean), but again, it was delicious, unlike new guinea bean I have tasted here which was bitter. I think the plant growing on the trellis is one (it seems to be growing in pure coral rubble- see the beach immediately behind).

The picture of a traditional dinner we had is sliced bean cooked with egg in one dish, sliperi kabis cooked in ngali nut sauce in one (yum!), and some rice (not traditional) and sweet potato.

I realise this forum may not have this sort of information but you never know- some of you out there are amazingly knowledgable.

Diana.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4
Picture: 5

Time: 12th March 2014 4:52pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (1) | Report
People who Like this Question trikuslaptop1
Original Post was last edited: 12th March 2014 4:51pm

About the Author Diana
Brisbane (west)
#UserID: 3004
Posts: 284
View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees

Chillilower says...
Just wanted to say that bele leaves are not prickly and not hairy. They are dark green and smooth.

Very very delicious. When cooked it is very slimy. I usually add it to stews in the final stage. It is eaten cooked. I have tried it raw but never liked it.

Time: 13th March 2014 9:31am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Chillilower
Sydney
#UserID: 6128
Posts: 123
View All Chillilower's Edible Fruit Trees

Diana says...
Hi Chillilower,

Does the plant you know as bele (the same as sliperi kabis I think) look like the one with red stems in pictures 4 and 5?

I agree it is very tasty.

Diana

Time: 13th March 2014 9:43am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diana
Brisbane (west)
#UserID: 3004
Posts: 284
View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees

Chillilower says...
Have a look at these pics. I have never seen one flower. That's maybe because we cut the leaves off regularly and the plant isn't allowed to flower.

http://www.fijitimes.com/images/artpics/218548.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/303916/photo21.html

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2013-12-07-BeleEdibleHibiscus-thumb.jpg

The one my parents have is not purple. Has green stems all the way through.

Time: 13th March 2014 10:43am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Chillilower
Sydney
#UserID: 6128
Posts: 123
View All Chillilower's Edible Fruit Trees

BJ says...
Maybe talk to Arno?
He did an article on them for STG magazine a little while ago that mentioned a few types. I'd imagine all of them would be here amongst the Vanuatuan and Solomon communities. You'd need a link to those communities or ask around at Rusty's in Cairns. Grahame Jackson from PestNet might know something as might other folks who work with Pacific Island crops and pest management...

Time: 13th March 2014 10:49am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
#UserID: 3270
Posts: 1552
View All Theposterformerlyknownas's Edible Fruit Trees

Diana says...
Hi BJ,

Thanks. What does the acronym STG stand for? I will look for the magazine article. I have some of these contacts including the Pacific Island crop pest research, I will ask when I see them.

Who is Arno?

Time: 20th March 2014 5:54pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diana
Brisbane
#UserID: 3004
Posts: 284
View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees

BJ says...
Sub tropical gardening magazine. They have a bibliography on their website, so you can look upbthr relevant issue.

Time: 20th March 2014 9:24pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
#UserID: 3270
Posts: 1552
View All Theposterformerlyknownas's Edible Fruit Trees

Diana says...
Thanks BJ

Time: 22nd March 2014 12:41am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diana
Brisbane
#UserID: 3004
Posts: 284
View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees