Abutilon pictum

(Gillies ex Hook & Arn.) Walp.

Japanese lantern plant, Indian mallow

Malvaceae Edible: Flowers

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Summary

Abutilon pictum, syn. Abutilon striatum (disputed), is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is native to southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The plant has become naturalised in Central America, and is used in horticulture. Common names include redvein abutilon, red vein Indian mallow, redvein flowering maple, Chinese-lantern and red vein Chinese lanterns.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Edible Uses

The flowers can be eaten raw or cooked and have a delicious sweet flavor. They produce nectar continuously while open, so plants grown indoors away from pollinating insects yield progressively sweeter flowers the longer they remain open.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate and tropical plant. It needs a sunny position. It needs a fertile well-drained soil.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Asia, Brazil*, China, Indonesia, Paraguay, SE Asia, South America*, Uruguay*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings of young shoots or half-ripe wood.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse; germination should occur within a few weeks. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on for at least the first winter under glass before planting out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of young shoots can be taken in June in a frame, grown on through the first winter in a greenhouse, and planted out the following spring after frosts have passed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood taken in July or August in a frame can be treated the same way.

Other Uses

None known.

Other Information

It is a cultivated ornamental plant.

Also Known As

Bunga lampion jepang

References (2)

Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns,info/tropical/
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 575