Abutilon theophrasti, Medik.

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 : 732-735

12. ABUTILON THEOPHRASTI Medik. in Malvenfam. 28. 1787.

Sida abutilon L., Sp. Pl. 2: 685 (1753).

TYPE: NETHERLANDS. George Clifford s.n., BM [lectotype: designated by Van Borssum Waalkes 1966: BM-000646455 [photo]!] .

Abutilon avicennae Gaertn. in Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2(1): 251 (t. 135, Fig. 1 ). 1791. nom. illeg. nom. superfl.

Shrub, 1–2 m tall. Stem terete, branched, with or without reddish pigmentation, mature stem woody, light brown; young stem pubescent with stellate hairs intermixed with patent simple and numerous glandular hairs. Leaf lamina 5–15 ˟ 2–10 cm, cordate, sometime orbicular, velvety, 7–9- nerved, apex acute to shortly acuminate, margin serrate in young leaves, entire in matured leaves. Petioles 4–18 cm long, stellate pubescent, pigmented or not. Stipules 3–4 mm long, linear, elliptic or lanceolate, apex sometimes divided and asymmetric, acuminate. Flowers axillary, solitary; flowering pedicel 0.8–1 cm, articulated 2–3 mm below the flower; fruiting pedicel 2 cm long, articulated 5–6 mm below the fruit. Calyx campanulate, 1.5–2 cm across, lobes ovate, 6–7 mm long, acute to acuminate at apex, below the middle of the schizocarp. Corolla 1–1.5 cm across, yellow, saucer shaped petals 8–10 ˟ 4–7 mm, broadly obovate, glabrous; apex truncate emarginate. Staminal column 5–7 mm, glabrous throughout; slightly conical at base, tube 0.8–1 mm, filaments 3–5 mm. Ovary 2 ˟ 2 mm, globose, velutinous with stellate hairs, 13–17 carpellary, stigma capitate. Schizocarps 1–1.8 ˟ 1.5 cm, cylindrical, apex indented, truncate. Mericarps 1–1.3 ˟ 0.5 cm, reniform, base rounded, dorsally curved, apex acuminate with 4–5 mm reflexed awn, 3-seeded. Seeds 2.7–3 ˟ 2–2.5 mm, compressed, reniform, seed surface covered with short simple hairs, brownish to black, clump of short simple hairs always present at hilum. Figures 17F–J , 18 H–N .

Distribution and Habitat —Asia, Africa, Australia, Southern Europe, and South and North America. In India: Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal ( Fig. 16 ). Abutilon theophrasti is native to the Indian subcontinent and the Indo-China border (Spencer 1984; CABI 2022). Its distribution extended through introduction to other continents for fiber production, later becoming invasive.

Etymology — Medikus (1787) used the specific epithet theophrasti in honor of the ‘Father of Botany,’ Theophratus.

Phenology —Flowering starts in July and continues until October; mature fruits appear in August. Flowers open after 2 PM.

Note — Abutilon theophrasti is less frequent in India, which contradicts its status as an invasive weed in the New World countries. It is mainly distributed in the northern part of the country, with few records from some other states. Spencer and Sankaran (1984) studied its occurrence and distribution in India with the perspective of its invasive nature in Europe and America. They indicated that the relatively lower rate of distribution in India might be due to its natural enemies. The study mentioned its record from West Bengal (WB) based on plants cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the East India Company, Kolkata. Prain (1903) also highlighted its rarity in West Bengal. The only available record is a specimen from the southern states of the country (MH, Chandrabose 29963) collected from Valan kulam ( Chandrabose 1973), a lake in Coimbatore. However, repeated excursions to Valan kulam and other lakes in the city were unsuccessful, and it was also not found or recorded in other south Indian states. BSJO and CAL hold specimens collected from Rajasthan (Khanpur, Wadhwa 9581), but many recent studies from Rajasthan have not recorded the species ( Bhandari 1978, Sharma and Tiagi 1979; Shetty and Singh 1987; Sharma 2002). The only record from Maharashtra is by Almeida (1996) from a bird sanctuary, Nandur Madhmeshwar. Field visits to the sanctuary were in vain, and herbarium specimens could not be traced in BLAT, where Almeida’ s collection is kept. Further, the species was collected from the backwater area at Ujani Dam, Maharashtra, a famous place for migratory birds. Coherently, many records of its existence (other than northern states) are from or near wetlands and areas of migratory birds. This suggests considering its seed dispersal via these birds. Further investigations on this may result in interesting revelations.

Representative Specimens— India. — JAMMU AND KASHMIR: Srinagar Dt., Srinagar city, 3 Sep 2017, VVN & MMS 594, 595 (BAMU, SPPU). — MAHARASHTRA: Pune Dt., Bhigwan, Ujani Dam Backwater area, 2 Aug 2018, VVN & MMS 605, (SPPU). — RAJASTHAN: Khanpur Aklera, 31 May 1965, B. M. Wadhwa 9581 (BSJO, CAL). — TAMIL NADU: Coimbatore Dt., Coimbatore city, Valankulam, 467 m, 3 Jun 1968, M. Chandrabose 29963 (MH). — UTTAR PRADESH: Lakhimpur Kheri Dt., Dudhwa National Park, May 1989, W. A. Rodgos 4053, WII00405300292 (WII).

Figures

FIG. 1. Habit and morphology of A. australiense (A–E) and A. bidentatum (F-J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D, I. Mericarp. E, J. Seed.

FIG. 17. Habit and morphology of A. ranadei (A–E) and A. theophrasti (F–J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D. Locule. E, J. Seed. I. Mericarp.

FIG. 18. Line drawing illustration of A. ranadei (A–G, drawn from VVN 593) and A. theophrasti (H–N, drawn from VVN 594). A, H. Leafy twig with flowers and fruits. B, I. Flower. C, J. Staminal column. D, K. Gynoecium. E, L. Fruit. F. Locule. G, N. Seed. M. Mericarp.

FIG. 16. Distribution of A. ramosum, A. ranadei, and A. theophrasti in India.