Chemical and physical properties of mature okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) seeds from Mersin (Buyukeceli Gulnar) in Turkey were evaluated. The chemical properties evaluated were moisture, crude protein, crude oil, crude ash, crude fiber, crude energy, water-soluble extract, ether-soluble extract and non-soluble HCl acid ash. The physical properties were evaluated at three moisture content levels of 6.35%., 9.87% and 15.22% d.b. In this moisture range, seed length, width, thickness, mass and geometric diameter increased from 5.178 to 5.507 mm, 4.786 to 4.960 mm, 4-121 to 4.362 mm, 0.059 to 0.067 g and 4.665 to 4.913 mm, respectively: the seed porosity volume projected area and terminal velocity increased from 48.92% to 52.08%, 47.38 to 54.68 mm(3) , 0.225 to 0.333 cm(2) and 5.20 to 5.68 ms(-1), respectively: bulk density decreased from 636.10 to 577.99 kg m(-3) : the sphericity decreased from 0.905 to 0.897. The coefficient of static friction on iron and galvanized iron sheets increased with increasiniz moisture content. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.