Abutilon theophrasti

This is an annual plant about 2-7' tall that branches occasionally. The stems are terete (circular in cross-section), and pubescent. The alternate leaves are up to 8" long and across (excluding the petioles). They are cordate or orbicular-cordate, slightly dentate along their margins, and more or less pubescent. The primary veins of the leaves are arranged palmately. The petioles are up to 4" long and pubescent as well. The foliage of the entire plant is mostly light green, although the upper surfaces of the leaves are dull green.  From the axils of the upper leaves, there occasionally develops a single flower about ¾" across. It consists of 5 petals that are orange-yellow or yellow, 5 sepals that are pubescent and light green, and numerous stamens with golden yellow anthers that surround the pistil in a loose cluster. The flowering stalk of each flower is about 1" long, which is much shorter than the petioles of the leaves. The blooming period usually occurs from late summer to early fall, and lasts about 1-2 months. The flowers are sparingly produced and short-lived. Each flower is replaced by a fruit about ¾" across. It is initially light green, but rather quickly turns brown or black with maturity. This fruit consists of a ring of about 10-15 flattened seedpods. Each seedpod has a stout beak and contains about 5-15 seeds. Each seed is greyish brown, somewhat flattened, and either reniform (kidney-shaped) or cordate (heart-shaped). The root system consists of a stout white taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.

Velvetleaf is a rather tall and lanky plant with large leaves that is easy to identify in the field because there is really nothing else that resembles it. There are other weedy members of the Mallow family that have been introduced from abroad, but they are much smaller plants. Velvetleaf is about as tall as the native Hibiscus spp. (Rose Mallows), but the latter are perennials with darker foliage and much larger flowers. The seeds of Velvetleaf are reportedly edible. In an outdoor emergency, the soft leaves can be used as a substitute for toilet paper.

Nile region and Sinai.

Tropical and subtropical regions; naturalized in north America and elsewhere.

Abutilon fragile Brandegee:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Abutilon lemmonii S. Watson:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Abutilon californicum Benth.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Abutilon abutilon (L.) Huth:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Abutilon theophrasti Medik.:
Canada (North America)
India (Asia)
Japan (Asia)
Kyrgyzstan (Asia)
Kazakhstan (Asia)
Mongolia (Asia)
Panama (Mesoamerica)
Pakistan (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
Thailand (Asia)
Tajikistan (Asia)
Turkmenistan (Asia)
United States (North America)
China (Asia)
Uzbekistan (Asia)
Vietnam (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Distribution: Native to India; introduced and fully naturalized in North America; North Asia and Westward to South Europe. It is of rare occurrence in Pakistan.

Herbs subshrublike, annual, 1-2 m tall. Petiole 3-12 cm, stellate hairy; leaf blade orbicular-cordate, 5-10 cm in diam., both surfaces densely stellate pubescent, base cordate, margin minutely crenate, apex long acuminate. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow. Pedicel 1-3 cm, pubescent, articulate near apex. Calyx cup-shaped, densely puberulent, lobes 5, ovate, ca. 6 mm. Corolla uniformly yellow; petals obovate, ca. 1 cm. Filament tube glabrous. Ovary 15-20-loculed, 1-1.5 cm, densely pubescent, apex truncate. Capsule semiglobose, ca. 1.2 × 2 cm; mericarps 15-20, stellate pilose, apex 2-awned, awns spreading, 3-5 mm, hairy. Seed reniform, brown, stellate puberulent. Fl. Jul-Aug.

Annual, 1-2 m tall velutinous herb. Leaves with 2-20 cm long petiole; stipules 5-8 mm long, caducous; blade 2-16 cm across, usually orbicular or broadly ovate, long acuminate, deeply cordate at base, minutely crenate-dentate or undulate, with 7-11 prominent nerves, velutinous-stellate hairy on both sides, more velutinous beneath. Flowers axillary, solitary or few flowered terminal raceme; pedicel 1.5-4 cm long, tomentose, articulate near the apex. Calyx c. 1 cm long, fused below the middle; lobes 4-7 mm broad, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, stellate tomentose without, less so within. Corolla yellow; petals 1.2 cm long and broad, obovate, glabrous. Staminal column 2-4 mm long, glabrous. Ovary globose, c. 3 mm across, villous. Fruit 12-15 mm long (awns excluded), 15-20 mm broad, black.

Sida abutilon Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 685. 1753; Abutilon avicennae Gaertner, nom. illeg. superfl.; A. avicennae var. chinense Skvortsov; A. avicennae f. nigrum Skvortsov; A. californicum Bentham; A. pubescens Moench; A. theophrasti var. chinense (Skvortsov) S. Y. Hu; A. theophrasti var. nigrum (Skvortsov) S. Y. Hu; A. tiliifolium (Fischer) Sweet; S. tiliifolia Fischer.

Weed of cultivation.

Disturbed areas, neglected fields, also cultivated. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Yunnan [India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam; Africa, SW Asia, Australia, Europe, North America].

The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various kinds of bees, including bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), miner bees (Melissodes spp.), and Halictid bees. Occasionally, small butterflies and skippers visit the flowers for nectar, while Syrphid flies feed on the abundant pollen. Two insects feed destructively on VelvetLeaf. The caterpillars of Pyrgus communis (Checkered Skipper) make folded-leaf nests from which they feed, while a scentless plant bug, Niesthrea louisianica, feeds on the floral buds, flowers, and seeds. Photographic Location

Abutilon theophrastii (Velvet Leaf) introduced
(Bees suck nectar or collect pollen; Syrphid flies feed on pollen & are non-pollinating; hummingbirds & other insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson)

Birds
Trochilidae: Archilochus colubris sn

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus griseocallis sn cp fq, Bombus pensylvanica sn fq; Anthophoridae (Anthophorini): Anthophora walshii sn; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes agilis sn, Melissodes bimaculata bimaculata sn cp fq, Melissodes boltoniae sn, Melissodes communis sn cp, Melissodes comptoides sn cp, Melissodes nivea sn cp, Melissodes rustica sn, Melissodes tepaneca sn, Svastra obliqua obliqua sn; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis sn, Megachile latimanus sn cp

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Halictus confusus sn, Lasioglossum coriaceus sn, Lasioglossum versatus cp np

Flies
Syrphidae: Toxomerus marginatus fp np

Butterflies
Pieridae: Phoebis sennae sn, Pieris rapae sn

Skippers
Hesperiidae: Pholisora catullus sn

Foodplant / sap sucker
hypophyllous Coccus hesperidum sucks sap of live leaf (near veins) of Abutilon theophrasti
Remarks: season: 1-12

Foodplant / sap sucker
Pseudococcus sucks sap of live green part of Abutilon theophrasti

Foodplant / sap sucker
Rhizoecus sucks sap of live stem base of Abutilon theophrasti
Other: major host/prey

Annual.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

These species are introduced in Switzerland.

Velvetleaf is typically found in full sun, mesic conditions, and a fertile soil consisting of loam or clay-loam. The fertility of the soil, particularly the level of nitrogen, has a strong influence on the size of the plant. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for at least 20 years, if not considerably longer. Range & Habitat