Abutilon pannosum, (G. Forst.) Schltdl.

Nimbalkar, Varsha Vilasrao & Sardesai, Milind Madhav, 2025, The Genus Abutilon (Malvaceae: Malvoideae) in India: A Taxonomic Revision and Insights from Micromorphology of Seeds, Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 49 (4), pp. 708-742 : 722-725

8. ABUTILON PANNOSUM (G.Forst.) Schltdl. in Bot. Zeit. 9: 828. 1851. Sida pannosa G.Forst., Commentat. Soc. Regiae Sci. Gott. 9: 62 (1787). TYPE: CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. G. Forster s.n. [lectotype designated here: BM, BM000802743 [photo]! https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/38ffd280-30bb-4d90-9d91- e693ccde089f/1603929600000]

Abutilon glaucum (Cav.) Sweet in Hort. Brit. [Sweet] ed. 1, 54. 1826. Sida glauca Cav. , in Icon. [Cavanilles] 1: 8, pl. 11. 1791. TYPE: SENEGAL, Anon. s.n.; (lectotype designated here: MA, MA476318 [photo]! http://161.111.171.57/ herbarioV/visorVCat.php?img=MA-01-00476318)

Abutilon muticum (Delile ex DC.) Sweet, Hort. Brit. [Sweet], ed. 2, 65. 1830. Sida mutica Delile ex DC., Prodr. 1: 470. 1824. TYPE: EGYPT. Coquebert s.n. (G-DC G00219670 [photo]!).

Abutilon tomentosum (Roxb.) Wight & Arn., Prodr. In Fl. Ind. Orient. 56. 1834. nom. illeg.

Shrub, 2–4 m tall. Stem pale green, densely velutinous with stellate pubescence intermixed with long simple hairs. Leaf lamina 8–20 3 4–15 cm, cordate or sometimes orbicular, pale green beneath, pubescent with stellate and simple hairs on adaxial, stellate pubescent on abaxial surfaces, apex acute, margin serrate or sharply dentate, 7-nerved. Petioles 8–15 cm long, Stipules 8–9 mm long, lanceolate to triangular, base 1–2 mm broad, 2–3 costate, acuminate, late caducous. Flowers axillary, solitary; flowering pedicel 2–2.5 cm, articulated 2–3 mm below the flower; fruiting pedicel 4–5 cm, articulated 4–5 mm below the fruit. Calyx campanulate, 1–1.5 cm across, divided at the middle, lobes ovate or triangular, 5–6 mm long, acute to acuminate at apex, may or may not exceed the schizocarp. Corolla 2.5–3 cm across, yellow; petals 5–12 3 4–8 mm, broadly obovate, unequally lobed at apex, glabrous, reflexed when full bloomed, tuft of stellate hairs at base between two adjacent petals. Staminal column 7–8 mm, base stellate pubescent; tube 3 mm, glabrous; filaments 3–4 mm, glabrous. Ovary 4 3 3 mm, globular, 24–30- carpellary, stigma capitate. Schizocarps 1 3 1 cm, globular, silvery, depressed at top, shiny, mericarps 24–30. Mericarps 8–9 3 3–4 mm, reniform, dorsally much curved, base rounded, apical part rounded with minute mucro, 2–3-seeded. Seeds 1.8–2 3 1.8 mm, reniform, warted, silvery, pubescent with long simple hairs, tuft of stellate hairs at hilum and placental attachment. Figures 11A–E , 12A–G .

Distribution and Habitat — A. pannosum is distributed in tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. In India, it is recorded from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu ( Fig. 13 ). Plants of this species are common along roadsides and wastelands, usually at lower altitudes. It is also a major weed in crop fields.

Etymology —The specific epithet pannosum indicates its felt-like texture, with densely matted long hairs.

Phenology —Flowering begins in July and lasts up to January. Fruiting occurs from September to March. Anthesis usually takes place after 2 PM.

Note —While searching for the original material of the name A. pannosum (5 Sida pannosa G.Forst. ), a herbarium sheet bearing two specimens was found at BM. Among the two, the specimen pasted on the right side of the sheet (a twig, leaves, and fruit; BM000802743) is confirmed as the original material collected by Forster. It matches with the protologue of Sida pannosa G.Forst. and hence is designated as the lectotype here.

The name A. glaucum (5 Sida glauca Cav. ) is typified here with the original material kept at MA. Its association with the name is confirmed by the label ‘Cavanillesii typi’ on the sheet (MA476318) and the characters exhibited by the specimen also match the description.

Representative Specimens— India. —s.l., s.d., Roxburgh s.n., BR0000013462116 ( BR, image!). — ANDHRA PRADESH: Kurnool Dt., Velugodu, 15 Feb 1957, S. K. Wagh, SKW4836 ( BLAT). — GUJARAT: Bharuch Dt., P. W. D. rest house road, 21 Nov 1959, G. L. Shah 1101 ( BLAT). Bhuj Dt. , Bhuj , 5 Apr 1960, S. K. Jain 61433 ( BSI). Gir Somnath Dt. , Junagarh to Sasan , 4 Oct 1953, S. J. Santapau 16235 ( BLAT). Jamnagar Dt. , 21 Oct 1945, s.c. 7676 ( BLAT). Kutch Dt. , Narayan sarovar, 23 Sep 2000, V. Singh & P. J. Parmar 15739 ( BSJO). Rajkot Dt. , Rajkot , 20 Oct 1953, S. J. Santapau 16836 ( BLAT) ; Jilla Park, Saurashtra, 21 Oct 1953, S. J. Santapau 16903 ( BLAT). Surendranagar Dt., Vana, 27 Oct 1999, R. P. Pandey 14530 ( BSJO). — HARYANA: Hisar Dt., Hisar, 5 Apr 1965, N. C. Nair 34565 ( BSD) ; Chakaranian, 26 Oct 1967, V. J. Nair 37657 ( BSD). Sirsa Dt., Ottu Bridge, Sirsa, 2 Dec. 1961, N. C. Nair 18953. — MAHARASHTRA: Ahmednagar Dt., Nov 1919, ACK 63 ( BLAT). Aurangabad Dt., Beed Bypass Road, A’ bad, 12 Oct 2014, VVN 501 ( BAMU, SPPU) ; Vaijapur, 1 Jan 2015, VVN 516 ( BAMU, SPPU). Mumbai Dt., Dahej beach, 20 Oct 1957, P. S. Toar 25924 ( BSI). Solapur Dt., Mardi, near Nannaj, 21 Sep 2010, J. Jayanthi & S. C. Yadav 198183 ( BSI). Pune Dt., Kanhe Phata, Wadgaon Maval, 7 Oct 2016, VVN 578 ( BAMU) ; Aalandi road, Pune, 31 Oct 2016, VVN 580 ( BAMU, SSPU). Khandesh, Murawal , Dec 1916, s.c. 18367 & 18368 ; Dongri, Dec 1916, s.c. 18360 ( BLAT). — RAJASTHAN: Churu Dt., M. G. College Sardarshahr, 19 Nov 1976, G. P. Roy 3979 ( BSJO) ; Barmer Dt., Uttarlai, 21 Oct 1975, B. V. Shetty 2292 ( BSJO) ; Bharatpur Dt., Near Weir, 28 Mar 1982, P. J. Parmar 8760 ( BSJO) .

Bikaner Dt., Gharsisar Tank side, 9 Mar 1975, G. P. Roy 1683 ( BSJO) ; Devikund sagar, Near Ridmalsar, 213m, 19 Mar 1975, G. P. Roy 1734 ( BSJO) ; Nal airport area, 30 Nov 1975, G. P. Roy 2390 ( BSJO). Jaisalmer Dt., Jaisalmer, Oct 1917, Blatter 5645 ( BLAT) ; Salamnagar, Pokran, 10 Nov 1973, G. T. Tiwari 677 ( BSJO) ; Ramseen, Near Luni River bridge, 16 Jan 1978, B. L. Vyas 5282 ( BSJO). Jodhpur Dt. , Shergarh , 11 Oct 1976, A. N. Singh 3205 ( BSJO). Jhunjhunu Dt. , Lohargal , Sep 1960, N. C. Nair 1059 ( BSD). — TAMIL NADU: Coimbatore Dt. , Coimbatore city, 13 Dec 2016, VVN 586 ( BAMU, SPPU). Ramanathapuram Dt., (labelled as A. hirtum ), 11 Feb 1987, V. Balasubramaniam 1281 ( MH) ; Ramnad Dt., (labelled as A. hirtum ), Paramakudi, 19 Feb 1953, J. Sakharam 95956 ( MH). — TELANGANA: Hyderabad Dt., Ganga Hills, Nov 1920, B987 ( BLAT) .

Figures

FIG. 11. Habit and morphology of A. pannosum (A–E) and A. persicum var. narasimhanii (F–J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D. Mericarp. E, J. Seed. I. Locule. (A, B by Gajanan Tambde; F, G and H by Arun Prasanth)

FIG. 12. Line drawing illustration of A. pannosum (A–G, drawn from VVN 580) and A. persicum var. narasimhanii (H–M, drawn from VVN 606). A, H. Leafy twig with flower and fruits. B. Flower. C, I. Staminal column. D, J. Gynoecium. E, K. Fruit. F. Mericarp. L. Locule. G, M. Seed.

FIG. 13. Distribution of A. pannosum, A. persicum var. narasimhanii, and A. persicum var. persicum in India.