Sonoran Indian Mallow (Abutilon mollicomun)

December 07, 2018 00:05:28
Sonoran Indian Mallow (Abutilon mollicomun)
Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey
Sonoran Indian Mallow (Abutilon mollicomun)

Dec 07 2018 | 00:05:28

/

Show Notes

 

Well, first things first, Abutilon sonorae is now Abutilon mollicomun.  I should have checked my favorite web site SEINet so as to be current in the taxonomy. Mollicomun translates to “with soft hairs”. The dichotomous key for Abutilon sonorae in Arizona Flora says, “stems and petioles sparsely to copiously hirsute…”.  I miss being copiously hirsute.

Native plants aren’t always showy, but in habitat they are part of an ecological fabric that is a marvelous jumbled mess. So you’re probably not going to add a Sonoran Indian mallow to your personal landscape for its flowers, but to help create a marvelous jumbled mess in your yard. A native mess.The large cordate leaves around the base of the tall stem are certainly a nice part of that mess. Oh, there is a showy native Abutilon found in the nursery trade if you’re not into hirsute stems and petioles. Look for Abutilon palmeri at your favorite native plant nursery. Me, I’ll be growing the tall stemmed and small flowered Sonoran Indian mallow and taking them to market in the spring… Grow Native!

The photo of the flower is by Sue Carnahan and the photo of the seed capsules is mine.

Other Episodes

Episode 0

October 17, 2021 00:05:12
Episode Cover

Gregg's Mistflower

I originally learned the botanical name of this native plant as Eupatorium greggii, but it is now Conoclinum dissectum. It’s neat that the tribute...

Listen

Episode 0

April 08, 2020 00:04:55
Episode Cover

A Creek for Sleep

Dear listeners, I wrote and produced this show in 2019, so it's a Re-Petey. I'm using old shows right now as I isolate at...

Listen

Episode 0

December 03, 2022 00:04:01
Episode Cover

Goodding Willow by a Pond in the Hills

Leslie Newton Goodding had a busy career. It was when he worked for the U. S. Department of Agriculture that he collected the type...

Listen