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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Abutilon''
| image = Abutilonmegapotamicum1web.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Abutilon megapotamicum''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
| genus = '''''Abutilon'''''
| genus_authority = [[Gerrit Smith Miller|Miller]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''About 150 species; see text.''
}}

'''''Abutilon''''' is a large genus of about 150 species of broadleaf [[evergreen]]s in the [[mallow]] family ([[Malvaceae]]). The genus includes [[Annual plant|annuals]], [[perennial]]s, [[shrub]]s, and small [[tree]]s from 1-10 m tall, and is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of all continents. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, unlobed or palmately lobed with 3-7 lobes. The [[flower]]s are conspicuous, with five petals, mostly red, pink, orange, yellow or white.

Common names include '''Abutilon''', '''Chinese Bell Flower''', '''Chinese Lantern''', '''Mallow''', '''Indian Mallow''', and '''Flowering Maple''' (for the maple-like leaves of some species, although the genus is not related to the true [[maple]]s).

''Abutilon'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Yellow-banded Skipper]] (which feeds exclusively on ''A. avicennae'') and ''[[Chionodes|Chionodes mariona]]''.

;Selected species
*''[[Abutilon albescens]]''. Endemic in [[Indonesia]].
*''[[Abutilon auritum]]'' (Asian Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon bedfordianum]]'' (Bedford's Mallow). [[Brazil]].
*''[[Abutilon berlandieri]]'' (Berlandier's Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon darwinii]]'' (Darwin's Mallow). Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon eremitopetalum]]'' (Hiddenpetal Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon fruticosum]]'' (Texas Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon grandifolium]]'' (Hairy Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon hirtum]]'' (Hairy Indian Mallow). Old World tropics; naturalised in New World tropics.
*''[[Abutilon hulseanum]]''.
*''[[Abutilon hyoleucum]]'' (Whiteleaf Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon incanum]]'' (Hoary Abutilon, Pelotazo).
*''[[Abutilon indicum]]'' (Indian Mallow). Old World tropics.
*''[[Abutilon insigne]]''. [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]].
*''[[Abutilon leonardi]]'' (Woolly Abutilon).
*''[[Abutilon malacum]]'' (Yellow Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon megapotamicum]]'' (Trailing Abutilon). Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon menziesii]]'' (Ko'oloa'ula). [[Hawaii]].
*''[[Abutilon mollicomum]]'' (Sonoran Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon mollissimum]]''. South America.
*''[[Abutilon niveum]]''. (White-flowered Abutilon). Argentina, Bolivia.
*''[[Abutilon ochsenii]]''. [[Chile]].
*''[[Abutilon palmeri]]'' (Palmer's Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon parishii]]'' (Parish's Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon parvulum]]'' (Dwarf Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon permolle]]'' (Coastal Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon pictum]]'' (Redvein Abutilon, Red Vein Indian Mallow; syn. ''A. striatum''). Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon purpurascens]]''. Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon reventum]]'' (Yellowflower Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon sachetianum]]''
*''[[Abutilon sandwicense]]'' (Greenflower Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon theophrasti]]'' (Velvetleaf, Indian Mallow, Butterweed). Tropical Asia.
*''[[Abutilon thurberi]]'' (Thurber's Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon thyrsodendron]]'' Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon trisulcatum]]'' (Anglestem Indian Mallow).
*''[[Abutilon venosum]]''. Brazil.
*''[[Abutilon virginianum]]'' (Virgin Islands Abutilon). [[Virgin Islands]].
*''[[Abutilon vitifolium]]''. Chile.
*''[[Abutilon wrightii]]'' (Wright's Indian Mallow).

;Hybrids
*''[[Abutilon x hybridum]]'' ("Chinese Lantern"; unknown parentage).
*''[[Abutilon x milleri]]'' (''A. megapotamicum'' x ''A. pictum'').
*''[[Abutilon x suntense]]'' (''A. ochsenii'' x ''A. vitifolium'').

===Cultivation and uses===
Abutilons are popular [[garden]] plants in subtropical areas; the hardiest species, ''A. ochsenii'' and ''A. vitifolium'' from Chile, are hardy in warm temperate areas with moderate frost down to about -10°C.

''Abutilon x hyb
ridum'' is a popular group of hybrids that are semi-tropical, frost-tender shrubs typically growing 2-3 m tall. The lantern-like buds open to solitary, pendulous, bell- to cup-shaped flowers to 8 cm diameter with five overlapping petals and significant staminal columns typical of the mallow family. Flowers come in red, pink, yellow, white and pastel shades. Lobed, maple-like, light green leaves are often variegated with white and yellow.

Sow seed indoors in late winter and set out seedling plants after last frost date.

: Beds, borders, pots, window boxes or containers.

<gallery>
Image:Abutilonincanum1.jpg|''Abutilon incanum'' (Hoary Abutilon)
Image:Abutilon megapotamicum11.jpg|Flower of the ''Abutilon megapotamicum''
Image:Abutilonmenziesii1.jpg|''Abutilon menziesii'' (Kooloaula)
Image:Abutilonmenziesii2web.jpg|''Abutilon menziesii'' flowers
Image:Abutilonpictum1web.jpg|''Abutilon pictum''
</gallery>

==External links==

{{commons|Abutilon}}

[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Pantropical flora]]

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