abutilon

[ From ἀβύτιλον ( abutilon ), said to be one of the names of the mulberry tree, which these plants resemble in leaf.] A genus of plants belonging to the order Malvaceæ, or Mallow-worts. The species are annual or shrubby plants, generally with handsome flowers, yellow or white, often veined with red. They have a five-carpel led fruit. A. esculentum is used in Brazil as a vegetable. Several species are wild in India. Two of them, A. Indicum and A. poly and rum, have fibres which may be twisted into ropes. Other varieties, A. striatum, A. venosum, A. insigne, ., are ornamental garden or greenhouse plants.