Shrubby Indian Mallow

Abutilon abutiloides

Family: Malvaceae

Plant Description: Dense, hairy, perennial or subshrub to 1 m high with ovate to roundish, heart-shaped basal leaves, 3-12 cm long, alternate. Flowers solitary, axillary or in leafy panicles. Petals 11-15 mm long, yellow-orange.

Plant Trivia:

Field Identification: Dense hairiness and the yellow to orange petals about 1 cm long are important characteristics.

Occurrence: Locally abundant on heavier loams, clay, or caliche in pasture openings, mostly in western half of area.

Bloom Period: April-December

Plant Use:

Key to species of Abutilon:

  1. Stigmas and carpels more than 10……………………………………..A. theophrasti

Stigmas and carpels usually 5-9………………………………………………………………….2

2. Calyx 4-6 mm long; stigmas and carpels 5…………………………..A. fruticosum

Calyx 9-15 mm long………………………………………………………………………………………3

3. Stigmas and carpels 5-7 ……………………………………………………………..A. wrightii

Stigmas and carpels 8-9…………………………………………………………A. abutiloides