Mushkdana / Musk Mallow
Abelmoschus moschatus
Also known as Ambrette, Vegetable Musk, Muskseed
- Habit
- Herb
- Found in India
- Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka & more
- Flowering
- July-December
How to identify Mushkdana
Identify Mushkdana by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a herb habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Musky-scented seeds.
- Confirm flower colour: Yellow.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: July-December.
- In India, compare location records such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and nearby regions.
- Confirm it sits within the Malvaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Mushkdana.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Abelmoschus moschatus
- Genus
- Abelmoschus
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Habit
- Herb
- Habitat
- Rocky areas in moist deciduous forests, also in the plains
- Distribution
- Indo-China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji Islands, Pacific Islands
- Found in India
- Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Gujarat
- Flowering & fruiting
- July-December
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Malvaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Yellowrecorded
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Solitary
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Mushkdana itself; the rest are typical of the Malvaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- मुश्कदाना Mushkdana, कस्तूरीदाना Kasturi-dana, जंगली भिंडी Jangli bhindi, Jangli bhenda
- Bengali
- kalkasturi, latakasturi, mushakdan
- Tamil
- kasturi-vendaik-kay-virai, kaattu kasturi, Kāṭṭukkastūri
- Telugu
- kasturi-benda-vittulu, karpoorabenda
- Kannada
- ಕಸ್ತೂರಿಬೆಂಡೆ Kasturi bende, ಕಾಡುಕಸ್ತೂರಿ Kaadu kastoori, ಸಟಾಕಸ್ತೂರಿ Sataa kasturi
- Malayalam
- kasturi-venta-vitta, kattu-kasturi
- Marathi
- कस्तूरी भॆंडी Kasthooribhendi, मुस्कादाना Muskadaana
- Sanskrit
- Latakasturika
Mushkdana in India
This shrubby herb, known as मुश्कदाना Mushkdana (Hindi), kasturi-vendaik-kay-virai (Tamil), kasturi-benda-vittulu (Telugu), ಕಸ್ತೂರಿಬೆಂಡೆ Kasturi bende (Kannada), kasturi-venta-vitta (Malayalam), कस्तूरी भॆंडी Kasthooribhendi (Marathi), is grown for its musk-scented seeds. Abelmoschus moschatus is found across Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, both wild and cultivated.
Uses
Its aromatic seeds (mushk dana) have a long history of traditional use in perfumery and traditional medicine systems as a musk substitute — an attributed traditional use, not a medical claim.
How to Identify Mushkdana
A bristly-hairy shrub or herb with lobed, hibiscus-like leaves. Flowers are yellow with a dark maroon centre, similar in shape to okra flowers (a close relative), followed by a bristly seed capsule containing small, musk-scented seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Musk Mallow called in different Indian languages?
- मुश्कदाना Mushkdana (Hindi); kasturi-vendaik-kay-virai (Tamil); kasturi-benda-vittulu (Telugu); ಕಸ್ತೂರಿಬೆಂಡೆ Kasturi bende (Kannada); kasturi-venta-vitta (Malayalam); कस्तूरी भॆंडी Kasthooribhendi (Marathi); kalkasturi (Bengali); Latakasturika (Sanskrit).
- Why is it called 'musk mallow'?
- Its dried seeds carry a distinct musky fragrance, historically valued as a plant-based substitute for animal musk in perfumery.
- Is it related to okra?
- Yes — it's a close relative of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in the same genus, sharing a similar flower shape, though grown for its fragrant seeds rather than as a vegetable.
Malvaceae
Mallow/Hibiscus family
Mushkdana belongs to the Malvaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Malvaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
All plant problem & care guidesMore in Malvaceae
View all MalvaceaeSources: GBIF — Abelmoschus moschatus (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Abelmoschus moschatus (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)