Abutilon theophrasti
Medikus, Malv. 28. 1787. Sida abutilon L., Sp. Pl. 685. 1753.
A. avicennae Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl.2: 251. t, 135. f. 1. 1791; Masters in Fl. Brit. India 1:
327.1874.
Guj.: Nani kapat
Annual, undershrubs, stout, up to 1 m high; stems slender; bark fibrous when mature; stems, petioles and pedicels densely velutinous with stellate hairs and some scattered simple hairs. Leaves 3.5 - 16 x 4 - 13 cm, orbicular, cordate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, irregularly crenate to dentate or entire, 5 - 7-nerved at base, densely stellate-hairy on both surfaces, more densely on lower surface with larger hairs on nerves; petioles 5 - 18 cm long, pubescent; stipules 6 - 8 mm long, linear to filiform, acute. Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicels 1.5 - 4.5 cm long, shorter than petioles, jointed towards apex, usually geniculate, stellate-pubescent. Calyx ca 1 cm across, campanulate, divided to the middle or base, lobes 7 - 10 x 4 - 6 mm, ovate, acuminate, slightly accrescent, spreading, velutinous to tomentose by stellate hairs outside, with simple and stellate hairs inside. Corolla yellow, 1.5 - 2 cm across; petals 1.5 x 0.6 cm, obovate to orbicular, rounded at apex, glabrous. Staminal column 2 - 3 mm long, without tubular part, glabrous. Schizocarps 1 - 2 cm high, 1 - 2 cm across, exceeding the persistent calyx; mericarps 10 - 16, 10 - 15 x 7 mm, reniform, apex with 2 stout, sharp erecto-patent, 3 - 7 mm long awns, densely stellate-hairy, 1 - 2-seeded. Seeds 3 - 4 mm across, reniform, pubescent with minute stellate hairs particularly at the hilum, blackish-brown.
Fl. & Fr. May-Aug.
Distrib. India: N.W. India and Deccan plateau between 300 - 1500 m. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Subtropics of the world, probably native in the Mediterranean region.
Notes. Stem yields good fibre known as 'China Jute' or 'Tientsin jute'. The leaves are demulcent and the bark is astringent.
Annual, undershrubs, stout, up to 1 m high; stems slender; bark fibrous when mature; stems, petioles and pedicels densely velutinous with stellate hairs and some scattered simple hairs. Leaves 3.5 - 16 x 4 - 13 cm, orbicular, cordate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, irregularly crenate to dentate or entire, 5 - 7-nerved at base, densely stellate-hairy on both surfaces, more densely on lower surface with larger hairs on nerves; petioles 5 - 18 cm long, pubescent; stipules 6 - 8 mm long, linear to filiform, acute. Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicels 1.5 - 4.5 cm long, shorter than petioles, jointed towards apex, usually geniculate, stellate-pubescent. Calyx ca 1 cm across, campanulate, divided to the middle or base, lobes 7 - 10 x 4 - 6 mm, ovate, acuminate, slightly accrescent, spreading, velutinous to tomentose by stellate hairs outside, with simple and stellate hairs inside. Corolla yellow, 1.5 - 2 cm across; petals 1.5 x 0.6 cm, obovate to orbicular, rounded at apex, glabrous. Staminal column 2 - 3 mm long, without tubular part, glabrous. Schizocarps 1 - 2 cm high, 1 - 2 cm across, exceeding the persistent calyx; mericarps 10 - 16, 10 - 15 x 7 mm, reniform, apex with 2 stout, sharp erecto-patent, 3 - 7 mm long awns, densely stellate-hairy, 1 - 2-seeded. Seeds 3 - 4 mm across, reniform, pubescent with minute stellate hairs particularly at the hilum, blackish-brown.
Fl. & Fr. May-Aug.
Distrib. India: N.W. India and Deccan plateau between 300 - 1500 m. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Subtropics of the world, probably native in the Mediterranean region.
Notes. Stem yields good fibre known as 'China Jute' or 'Tientsin jute'. The leaves are demulcent and the bark is astringent.
