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Abutilon theophrasti
Also called China jute, Indianmallow, Indian Mallow, Butterprint, Velvet Leaf, Abutilon Hemp, American Jute
Velvetleaf is a fast-growing annual with large heart-shaped downy leaves and yellow flowers, grown in China for jute-like fibre and as a food and medicinal plant. It is better known as a weed of crops than as a garden plant, and is grown mainly for its fibre and leaves.
Abutilon theophrasti, also known as velvetleaf, velvet plant, velvetweed and the Chinese jute, is an annual plant in the family Malvaceae that is native to Central and East Asia. It is the type species of the genus Abutilon. Its specific epithet, theophrasti, commemorates the ancient Greek botanist-philosopher Theophrastus.
Velvetleaf has been grown in China since around 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like bast fibre. The plant is known as maabulha in the Maldives and its leaves were part of the traditional Maldivian cuisine, usually finely chopped and mixed with Maldives fish and grated coconut in a dish known as mas huni. The seeds are eaten in China and Kashmir. The plant is also used to make ropes, coarse cloth, nets, paper, and caulk for boats, and is still cultivated in China to this day. Velvetleaf is used in Chinese traditional medicine as a treatment for dysentery and to treat eye injuries, including opacity of the cornea. The leaves of the velvet leaf contain 0.01% of rutin and are used for a soothing, lubricant treatment that softens irritated tissues. When the leaves are softened, they can be used as a remedy for ulcers. The bark of velvetleaf can reduce the flow of bodily fluids such as blood, secretions, and mucus, and promote the flow of urine.
Monkeybush · Ko'oloa 'ula · Palmer's Indian mallow · Coastal Indian mallow · Indian mallow
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Abutilon theophrasti by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
