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, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Also in Mauritius.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Wednesday 18 April 2012
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. 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 Flora Zambesiaca 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. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 119.

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Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Malawi: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Mozambique: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Zambia: Abutilon mauritianum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Abutilon mauritianum
African Plant Database: Abutilon mauritianum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Abutilon mauritianum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Abutilon mauritianum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Abutilon mauritianum
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iNaturalist: Abutilon mauritianum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Abutilon mauritianum
JSTOR Plant Science: Abutilon mauritianum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Abutilon mauritianum
Plants of the World Online: Abutilon mauritianum
Tropicos: Abutilon mauritianum
Wikipedia: Abutilon mauritianum