Species
Abutilon indicum
Etymology
Abutilon: from the Arabic word for a mallow-like plant.
Common Name(s)
Indian abutilon, Indian mallow
Authority
Abutilon indicum (Link) Sweet
Family
Malvaceae
Brief Description
An erect, many-branched shrub to about 2 m tall. Leaves with stipules, simple, serrate, broadly ovate, with acuminate tips; velvety on both sides. Corolla yellow.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Distribution
Occasionally grown in NZ gardens; first seedlings seen near planted shrubs in 2017 near Whanganui
Habitat
Seedlings appear near planted specimens
Similar Taxa
Some other Abutilon species
Flower Colours
Yellow
Fruiting
A dry ridged capsule
Propagation Technique
Seed
Year Naturalised
2017
Origin
India and East Asia to Indonesia
Reason for Introduction
Ornamental; perhaps for fibre and medicinal uses.
This page last updated on 27 Oct 2019