Abutilon grandifolium
(Willd.) Sweet
Malvaceae
Abutilon arnottianum (Gillies ex Hook.) Walp.
Abutilon kauaiense Hochr.
Abutilon molle Sweet
Abutilon mollissimum sandwicense Hochr.
Abutilon sordidum K.Schum.
Abutilon tortuosum Guill. & Perr.
Sida arnottiana Gillies ex Hook.
Sida grandifolia Willd.
Sida mollis Ortega
Common Name: Hairy Abutilon
Close-up of the flower
Photograph by: Rachid H
General Information
Abutilon grandifolium is a perennial plant with stems that are more or less woody and can persist. It usually grows 1 - 2 metres tall, with some specimens up to 3 metres[
].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a local source of fibre. It is sometimes cultivated for this fibre, and is also grown as an ornamental plant[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
Habitat
Naturalized in Hawaii in waste areas, fields, and along roadsides, especially in arid regions, from near sea level up to 600 metres[
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics and subtropics.
Plants in this genus generally require a position in full sun or part day shade, and a fertile well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised in many parts of the tropics[
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
Decoctions of the leafy or fruiting stems are applied as an enema for the treatment of measles[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The leaves and stems are used internally and externally for the treatment of insect bites[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
A fibre obtained from the bark is used for cordage[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Very strong, it is suitable for matting, paper etc[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
