Abutilon elaeocarpoides Webb

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 : 731-732

Abutilon elaeocarpoides Webb in Fragm. Fl. Aethiop.– Aegypt. 53. 1854. TYPE: NUBIA, ad pagam Cordofanum Milbes, Kotschy 278 (lectotype: designated by Fryxell 2002, P).

Shrubs, 1–3 tall. Stem brown, pubescent with minute stellate and simple hairs. Leaf lamina 8–15 3 3–8 cm, young leaves triangular, mature ones ovate or cordate, trilobed, pale green beneath, adaxially and abaxially pubescent with stellate and simple hairs, apex acute to shortly acuminate, lobes acute, margin serrate or sharply dentate, 7-nerved. Petioles 8–12 cm long. Stipule 8–10 mm long, linear, apex long acuminate. Flowers 3–5 on axillary, solitary cyme; peduncle 2.5–4 cm long; flowering pedicel 1–1.3 cm, joined 2–3 below mm the flower; fruiting pedicel 1.5–2 cm long, articulated 4–5 mm below the fruit. Calyx campanulate, 1 cm across, divided at the middle, lobes ovate, 6–7 mm long, apex acute to short acuminate. Corolla 1–1.5 cm across, yellow; petals 5–8 3 4–6 mm, broadly obovate, apex truncate or slightly unequal, sparse distribution of glandular trichomes on dorsal side, sometime absent. Staminal column 1.7–2 mm, base bulbous, glabrous, tube 1–1.3 mm, stellate pubescent, filaments 3–4 mm, glabrous. Ovary 2 3 2 mm, (6–)8–10-loculed, cylindrical, indented, stigma capitate. Capsule 8–10 3 8 mm, cylindrical, indented at apex with reflexed awn of locules. Locules 8–10, 8–9 3 4.5 mm, dorsally straight, base rounded, abruptly tapering from middle, apex curved outside, awns 2–3 mm, reflexed; 2–3-seeded. Seeds 1.5–1.8 3 1.5–1.8 mm, triangular, warted, glabrous throughout, brown; hilum glabrous. Figures 14F–J , 15H–N .

Distribution and Habitat — Abutilon ramosum is distributed in tropical Africa, Pakistan, and India. In India, the species is recorded from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu ( Fig. 16 ). It usually prefers shady locations. Though it is reported from many places in the country, its occurrence is not as common as the weedy species of Abutilon , such as A. indicum , A. hirtum , and A. pannosum , which commonly grow on roadsides, waste places, and farms.

Etymology —The specific epithet ramosum refers to the branched habit of the plant (branched habit is common throughout the genus).

Phenology —Flowering starts from July to September, while fruiting occurs from September to October. Flowers usually open after 8 AM.

Notes —The combination ‘ Abutilon ramosum’ was published by Guillemin et al. (April 1831) and Don (August 1831; Don 1831) with the citation of ‘ Sida ramosa Cav. ’ as a basionym. According to Fryxell (2002), the former combination ( Guillemin et al. 1831) is invalid, and the latter should be considered valid since Guillemin et al. (1831) have cited an illustration “Diss 1: 34, tab.9, fig. 2” which relates to Sida obtusa Cav. ; and Don has cited the correct illustration “Diss1: 28, tab.6, fig. 1” connected to the name ‘ Sida ramosa Cav. ’ However, in the present study, the citation of “p. 34, t. 9, f. 2” by Guillemin et al. (1831) is treated as a bibliographic error for “p. 28, t. 6, f. 1” by giving the benefit of the doubt and considering their citation of the correct basionym. Therefore, Abutilon ramosum (Cav.) Guill. & Perr. (1831) is treated here as a valid combination.

A specimen (MA476281) referred by Cavanille by the name Sida ramosa (5 Abutilon ramosum ) is kept at MA under the section ‘Cavanillesii typi’ (labeled the same on the sheet). This confirms it as the original material, which exhibits characteristic fruit morphology given in the description of S. ramosa and hence is selected as lectotype.

The name Abutilon sidoides Dalzell & A.Gibson is published by Dalzell and Gibson (1861) in their flora of Bombay (the area concerned for this study was Bombay Presidency, a province) based on specimens collected from Cambay (Khambat, included in the then Bombay Presidency, now in Gujarat). In an attempt to search Dalzell’ s collection from Bombay, a specimen of A. sidoides (K000659529) bearing a note ‘ BOMBAY herbarium of late N. A. Dalzell, presented by Mrs. Dalzell, April 1878 ’ was found at K. Further, the specimen (K000659529) perfectly matches with the description given in the protologue of the name and is hence selected as the lectotype here.

Representative Specimens— India. — GUJARAT: Kutch Dt., Gundala, 3 Apr 1994. s.c. 12060 ( BSJO). Palanpur Dt., Dattiwara forest , 24 Dec 1977, V. Singh 5379 ( BSJO). Panchmahal Dt., Pavagad, 25 Sep 2015, VVN 558 ( BAMU, SPPU) . — HARYANA: Sonipat Dt., Murthal, 12 Dec 1963, V. J. Nair 29737 ( BSD) . — HIMACHAL PRADESH: Kangara Dt., Pong Dam, 22 Apr 1972, O. P. Mishra 47170 ( BSD) . — MAHARASHTRA: Pune Dt., Junnar, 15 Jun 2003, S. B. Nagarkar s. n. ( AHMA) ; Junnar, 3 Sep 2016, VVN & MMS 570 ( BAMU, SPPU) . — TAMIL NADU: Nigiri Dt., Mamaram, 1250m, 3 Feb 1972, E. Vajravelu 39736 ( MH) . — PUNJAB: Hoshiarpur Dt., Garhi Mansowal, 23 Sep 1979, P. Daniel 67619 ( BSD) ; Jaijon, 24 Sep 1970, O. P. Mishra 38246 ( BSD) ; Talwara, 6 Nov 2000, S. K. Srivastava 96189 ( BSD). Karnal Dt., Karnal, 15 Oct 1962, N. C. Nair 24608. Sonipat Dt., Murthal, 12 Dec 1963, V. J. Nair 29737 ( BSD) . — RAJASTHAN: Alwar Dt., Sariska Tiger Reserve, Konkwari forest block, 23 Oct 1983, P. J. Parmar 8772 ( BSJO) ; Banswara Dt., Bodigana, 15 Jan 1969, s.c. 51155 ( BSI) ; Barmer Dt., Haldeshwar Mahadev R. F. 14 Nov 1981, R. P. Pandey 7969 ( BSJO) ; way to Kundal, 19 Nov 1981, R. P. Pandey 8030 ( BSJO) ; Jalor Dt., Sunda hills, Jaswantpura, 26 Sep 1998, B. V. Shetty 6742 ( BSJO) ; Pali Dt., Way to Paras Ram R. F., 3250ft., 25 Dec 1985, R. P. Pandey 19404 ( BSJO) ; Sikar Dt., Dariba, Nim ka Thana, 19 Sep 1992, P. J. Parmar 10523 ( BSJO). Sirohi Dt., Erinpura, Near Jawai, 2 Oct 1960, Rolla Sheshagiri Rao 66819 ( BSI) Udaypur Dt., Jaisamand, Harikinal, 30 Sep 1962, coll. not readable 82249 ( BSI) ; Bagdara forest , 4 Oct 1962, s.c. 82320 ( BSI). Udaypur Dt., Udaypur city, 24 Sep 2015, VVN 554 ( BAMU, SPPU) .

— UTTAR PRADESH: Jhansi Dt., Jhansi Fort, 8 Mar 1959, T. A. Rao 8314 (BSD). Mahoba Dt., Mahoba, 31 Mar 1962, U. C. Bhattacharya 20987 (BSD).

Figures

FIG. 14. Habit and morphology of A. persicum var. persicum (A–E) and A. ramosum (F–J). A, F. Habit and flower. B, G. Fruit. C, H. Dehiscing fruit. D, I. Locule. E, J. Seed.

FIG. 15. Line drawing illustration of A. persicum var. persicum (A–F, drawn from VVN 525) and A. ramosum (G–N, drawn from VVN 558). A, G. Leafy twig with flower and fruits. B, I. Staminal column. C, J. Gynoecium. D, K. Fruit. E, L. Locule. F, M. Seed. H. Flower.

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