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.
Type location:	Mauritius
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	mauritianum: of Mauritius
Habitat:	On a variety of soils in grassland, woodland and along roadsides.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical, Africa, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Also in Mauritius.
FZ divisions:	S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
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. Maquet, P. (1983). Malvaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 390. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 156. 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.

Other sources of information about Abutilon mauritianum:

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Flora of Burundi: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of the DRC: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Mozambique: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Rwanda: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Zambia: Abutilon mauritianum
Flora of Zimbabwe: 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