Sunday, May 8, 2016

Three Mallows


There are 4 species of Abutilon in Sabino; all are commonly called Indian Mallow. Keep in mind, though, that we're learning to identify at the level of FAMILY - not genus, and especially not species.  


Photo credits: Lt. fruit © Gene Spesard
top rt: © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey ; bottom rt. © Ned Harris


First up, Abutilon abutiloides i.e., Abutilon that looks like Abutilon. How convenient! The flowers (not pictured in the slide) are yellow with 5 separate petals (of course). The fruit is lovely with 10-or-so chambers. The highly trained naturalist (HTN) dumped the seeds out into her hand in the photo in the bottom right.



Photo credits: flower © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey
foliage, fruit © Marty Horowitz


Abutilon reventum has large, very soft leaves. HTN is holding a ripe fruit; these have 10-12 chambers.


Photos Flower © 1993 C. David BertelsenFruit © 2013 Ted Myers


(Yes, I use this slide in the quiz when I give this presentation live.) Note the 5 compartments of the fruit of Abutilon incanum.

Tomorrow: A nod to Anoda


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