Malvaceae Week: Abutilon theophrasti from Kashmir
Gurcharan Singh
Abutilon theophrasti Medic, Malv. 28. 1787
Syn: Abutilon avicennae Gaertn
Common names: Velvetleaf, China Jute, Buttonweed, Butterprint,
Pie-marker or Indian Mallow
Annual herb up to 2 m tall, velutinous; leaves broadly ovate to orbicular,
deeply cordate at base, crenulate-denticulate, up to 20 cm, on often up to
20 cm long petiole, velutinous-stellate hairy on both surfaces; flowers
yellow, in few flowered racemes; calyx 1 cm, parted up to middle, lobes
ovate-lanceolate; petals about 1.2 cm long; ovary villous; fruit 15-20 mm
broad, mericarps 13-30, velvety, with horizontal 3-4 mm long awns.
Yields stron coarse fibre known as Chinese or American jute, used for ropes and rugs.
Photographed from Botanical Garden below Cheshmashahi in Kashmir on August
6, 2011*
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/
Balkar Arya
Regards
Dr Balkar Singh
Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology
Arya P G College, Panipat
Haryana-132103
09416262964