Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Abutilon theophrastii
Buttonweed, Velvetleaf
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Abutilon theophrasti

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

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F
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M
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A
0
M
0
J
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J
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A
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O
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N
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Asia

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, annual

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire, dentate leaf margin; Palmate leaf venation; lanceolate, oval, orbicular and peltate leaf shape

Inflorescence: solitary

Flowers: perfect; 5 merous; complete, regular; yellow; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: schizocarp

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in waste areas; along railroads; vacant lots; new piles of soil.

ILPIN Notes: A major weed of maize, cotton, soybeans, and sorghum in the eastern United States. Seeds are viable in the soil for 20-50 years (Spencer, 1984). Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Economic Botany 38: 407-416. Seeds are edible. Introduced into North America because of its potential as a source of bast fiber (Spencer, 1984).

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State:
  • Chicago Area:

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