Taxon:  Abutilon theophrasti Medik.



Summary
Genus:
Abutilon
Family:
Malvaceae
Subfamily:
Malvoideae
Tribe:
Malveae
Nomen number:
757
Place of publication:
Malvenfam. 28.  1787
Verified:
02/21/1995 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
65 (51  active, 50  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Homotypic Synonym(s)
Abutilon avicennae Gaertn.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Sida abutilon L.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Borssum Waalkes, J. v. 1966. Malesian Malvaceae revised. Blumea 14:166-167.
  5. Brink, M. & R. P. Escobin, eds. 2003. Fibre plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 17:244.
  6. Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 172.
  7. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  8. Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
  9. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1164.
  10. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  11. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  12. Fryxell, P. A. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. common names
  13. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
  14. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  15. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  16. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  17. International Development Consortium. Invasive species compendium (on-line resource).
  18. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  19. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
  20. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  21. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  22. Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:74.
  23. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  24. Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.).
  25. Oseland, E. et al. 2020. Examination of commercially available bird feed for weed seed contaminants. Invasive Pl. Sci. Managm. 13:14-22. DOI: 10.1017/inp.2020.2.
  26. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  27. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  28. Seed Regulatory and Testing Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.D.A. State noxious-weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act (updated annually).
  29. Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
  30. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  31. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
  32. 1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
  33. 2018. Mid-Atlantic invasive plant species (on-line resource)
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishabutilon-hemp  1Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
EnglishAmerican-jute  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishbutterprint  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
EnglishChina-jute  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
EnglishChingma-lantern  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishIndian-mallow  1Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
Englishswamp Chinese-lantern  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishTientsin-jute  1Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
Englishvelvetleaf  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishvelvetweed  11961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
English (Canada)velvetleaf Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 172.
French (Canada)abutilon Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel2Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 172.
Germanchinesische Jute  2Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Germanchinesische Samtpappel  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1164.
Germanchinesischer Hanf  2Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Japanese Rōmajiichibi  2Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.).
Portuguese (Brazil)falsa-juta  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Swedishlindmalva  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusArmenia  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusAzerbaijan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusGeorgia  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian FederationDagestan Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusRussian Federation-CiscaucasiaCiscaucasia Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaKazakhstan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaKyrgyzstan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaTajikistan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaTurkmenistan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaUzbekistan  Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaAfghanistan  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaEgyptSinai Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeRussian Federation-European partEuropean part Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBosnia and Herzegovina  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. SicilyTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeMontenegro  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateChinaChina  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapan  Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIraq  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2CultivatedEuropeEastern EuropeUkraine  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateChinaChina  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapan  Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  Brink, M. & R. P. Escobin, eds. 2003. Fibre plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 17:244.
4NaturalizedEurope Europe  Brink, M. & R. P. Escobin, eds. 2003. Fibre plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 17:244.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedNorthern America North America  Brink, M. & R. P. Escobin, eds. 2003. Fibre plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 17:244.
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Afghanistan, Egypt [Sinai], Iran, Turkey
  • CAUCASUS: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia [Ciscaucasia], Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation [Dagestan]
  • MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Pakistan
Europe
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part]
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), Montenegro, Romania
Cultivated
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Iraq
  • CHINA: China
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan
Europe
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Ukraine
Naturalized
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan
Asia-Tropical
  • MALESIA: Indonesia
Europe
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France, Portugal
  • REGION: Europe
Northern America
  • REGION: North America

Reference(s)
  1. Brink, M. & R. P. Escobin, eds. 2003. Fibre plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 17:244.
  2. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  3. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  4. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  5. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  6. Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
  7. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  8. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  9. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  10. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Human foodoil/fat Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Materialsfiber Spencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
Materialsfiber Fryxell, P. A. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. common names
Weedseed contaminantof birdseed mixesOseland, E. et al. 2020. Examination of commercially available bird feed for weed seed contaminants. Invasive Pl. Sci. Managm. 13:14-22. DOI: 10.1017/inp.2020.2.
Weedseed contaminantpotentialLazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Weedseed contaminantpotentialSpencer, N. R. 1984. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae), history and economic impact in the United States. Econ. Bot. 38:407-416.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=757. Accessed 12 May 2026.