Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) are known in many English-speaking countries as lady 's fingers or gumbo ) is a flowering plant in the mallow family , related to cotton and hibiscus . Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus Moench , pronounced Ë oÊ krÉ , Ë É ' krÉ , known in many English-speaking countries as lady 's fingers or gumbo ) is a flowering plant in the mallow family .