Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medik.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Hippo House, Gorongosa National Park

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Synonyms:	Abutilon zanzibaricum Boj. ex Mast. Sida mauritiana Jacq.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Soft-wooded, much-branched shrub up to c. 1.5 m tall. Leaves more or less broadly ovate-cordate, up to 18 × 16 cm, with a long acuminate tip, unlobed, discolorous, dark green above, paler grey-green below with prominent veins; margin slightly but distinctly serrate-crenate; petiole up to 18 cm long. Flowers axillary, often on short axillary shoots, yellow, sometimes reddish at the base or with reddish veins, c. 3 cm in diameter. Calyx more or less cup-shaped, 10-18 mm long and 8-10 mm in diameter; lobes 6-12 mm long, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate-linear, gradually acuminate. Fruit 20-25 mm in diameter, stellate-pubescent with 23-40 mericarps, 2-3-seeded, black when dry, radiately spreading with long, spine-like awns c. 1/3 of the length of the mericarp.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	mauritianum: of Mauritius
Habitat:	On a variety of soils in grassland, woodland and along roadsides.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 2000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical, Africa, Swaziland and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Also in Mauritius.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,C,E,S
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 18 April 2012
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 83. Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae FZ 1(2) Pages 493 - 494. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 60. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 73.

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Other sources of information about Abutilon mauritianum:

Flora of Mozambique: Abutilon mauritianum
African Plant Database: Abutilon mauritianum
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Abutilon mauritianum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Abutilon mauritianum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Abutilon mauritianum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Abutilon mauritianum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Abutilon mauritianum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Abutilon mauritianum
JSTOR Plant Science: Abutilon mauritianum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Abutilon mauritianum
Tropicos: Abutilon mauritianum
West African Plants database: Abutilon mauritianum