About Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik.
Under favorable growing conditions, aibika (scientific name Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik.) can grow as a subshrub or shrub reaching over 3 metres (10 ft) in height. It is a tropical plant native to the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, central and southern China, Malesia, New Guinea, and Queensland. Aibika is easily propagated through cuttings and is relatively resistant to disease. Because of these traits, it is widely cultivated, and is often grown along garden borders or as an intercrop in traditional tropical gardens. Its growth habit, combined with its nutritional value, makes it popular for home gardening and horticulture. Beyond its culinary uses, aibika has other applications in different cultures. Its mucilage is used in traditional papermaking. In Japan, where it is called tororo aoi, it is used to produce neri, a starchy substance needed for making traditional Japanese washi paper. In Korea, it is known as hwang chok kyu, and is used to make dak pul, an ingredient for producing Korean hanji paper.
