Scientific Family
Malvaceae
Synonyms
Abutilon americanum, Abutilon jacquinii, Abutilon lignosum, Sida tomentosa , Sida tricuspidata
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Abutilon californicum, Abutilon berlandieri, Abutilon pringlei
Height
To 5 feet
Riparian
No
Form somewhat shrubby, slightly woody at the base; stems slender, erect with soft hairs, becoming smooth; all herbage is covered with hairs forming star-like clusters; stamens in a hairy column; dry fruit splits apart at maturity.
Dark green to grayish-green subshrub to 5 feet tall, mostly ascending-erect stems, star-like hairs throughout; leaves to 4 inches long, longer than wide; yellowish-orange flowers; sepals shorter than fruits; fruits have 8 to 10 sections.
Habitat
Open arid habitat, often at the base of granite boulders.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4000
Flower Characteristics
Sepals 1/2 inch long, tips squared off; pedicel (stalk of a single flower in a seedhead) to 2 inches long, solitary or in elongated clusters, petals 5, 1/2 inch long; stamens are fused in a central column that surrounds an 8 to 10 branched style.
Flower color
Yellowish-orange
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
December
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems slender, upright, sparsely hairy becoming smooth; stipules 1/4 to 1/2 inch; leaves alternate and broadly ovate, 3/4 to 4 inches long, tapering to a sharp point, toothed along the margin, dark green above, with very dense gray matted hairs below.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green to grayish-green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The dry fruit (schizocarp) splits at maturity into 8 to 10 seeded sections; each is 1/2 inch diameter, 3/4 inch long covered with short, soft hairs forming a star shape, longer simple hairs on lower margin.
Fruit type
Other
Fruit color
Brown
Seeds are 3 per section, 1/8 inch, net-veined and minutely roughened.