Abutilon hirtum
(Lam.) Sweet
Malvaceae
Abutilon graveolens (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Wight & Arn.
Abutilon heterotrichum Hochst. ex Mattei
Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) G. Don
Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Jacob Cord.
Abutilon indicum (L.) Don
Abutilon kotschyi Hochst. ex Webb
Abutilon lugardii Hochr. & Schinz
Napaea incurva Moench
Sida hirta Lam.
Sida pilosa L'Hér.
Common Name:
General Information
Abutilon hirtum is a perennial plant with stems that are more or less woody and persist. It grows up to 2.5 metres tall[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The stem, leaf-stalks and flower-stalks are sticky, velvety and hairy[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre, medicines and food. It is sometimes grown for its ornamental value[
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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Drier regions of tropical Africa, through Arabia, eastern Mediterranean, and Asia to Indonesia. Naturalized in tropical America.
Habitat
Woodland, bushland, savannahs, overgrazed grassland, roadsides, hedges and fences, often near rivers and other moist locations, and sometimes on termite nests; at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres[
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.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the drier tropics, usually found in areas with a distinct dry season, at elevations up to 1,800 metres[
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 plant is often found in riverine silty soils in the wild, but more commonly on the more alkaline types of soil[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
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- Author
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- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Edible Uses
Fruits - raw,[
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.
]. Probably eaten when immature, when it has a mucilaginous texture[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The plant (part not specified) is used to ease childbirth and to expel the placenta[
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 plant is used as a poultice to ease the pain of kidney gravel and is often mixed with glutinous rice and applied to ulcers[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
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- Author
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- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The roots are antipyretic and also used in the treatment of coughs and toothache[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The leaves or flowers are applied to abscesses[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is a host for okra mosaic virus (Ohm)[
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 is obtained from the stem bark. It is used for making string, cordage and cloth[
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 fibre is long, fine, soft and strong[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
