Abelmosk (Abelmoschus moschatus)

Kapasan or abelmosk (Abelmoschus moschatus) is a plant species in Malvaceae, annual shrubs, 3.5 meters high, woody stems, round, erect, monopodial branches, green or brownish green, sharp hairs like thorns and three subspecies.

A. moschatus has a single leaf, large or narrow rectangular, 6-22 cm long, 5-20 cm wide, divided into 3-5 lobed, a bone in the middle, several pinnate pulses, a heart-shaped base, taper tips, edges jagged or flat, rough surface, green, hair and stem length of 5-10 cm.

A single flower, bell-shaped, grows on the armpits of leaves, petals 2-3 cm and triangular in shape, haired, the tip has 5 paces and is green. Tubular stamens, anthers loose and yellow. The crown is divided by five strands, 3.5-10 cm long and yellow in color.

The fruit is long box-shaped, has five corners, sharp edges, sharp hair, green and ripe blackish brown. Kidney-shaped seeds, flat, curved, hard and blackish brown. Single root, round, branched and yellowish white.

Abelmosk grows wild in open places, empty land, abandoned land or scattered in gardens and roadside at altitudes up to 650 m. Seeds, leaves and roots contain saponins and flavonoids. Leaves and seeds also contain tannins.

The seeds produce castor oil for a cosmetic mixture, liniment and an itchy powder mixture. The plant is also used as an anti-pyretic, bladder, anti-inflammatory and pus removal.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Hibisceae
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species: Abelmoschus moschatus
Subspecies: Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. moschatus, Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. tuberosus, Abelmoschus moschatus ssp. biakensis

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