Indian Mallow/Country Mallow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Abutilon
• Indian lantern-flower
• Indian mallow
• India Abutilon
• Indian Lantern flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sida indica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Abutilon indicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Its taxonomic identity is completed by its placement within the genus Abutilon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct global regions. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be found growing in Madeira. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within Rwanda. Within the Western Indian Ocean, the species is distributed across the Comoros, Mauritius, and the Chagos Archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Abutilon indicum is characterized by its preference for the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where it thrives within these moist, high-rainfall forest environments. This species exhibits a specific vertical distribution within its landscape, occupying an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1800 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. Throughout its ecological niche, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 866.67 m AMSL, reflecting its specialized adaptation to these particular montane or sub-montane forest conditions.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

866.666666666667 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Abutilon indicum are characterized by a complex chromosomal constitution that indicates significant evolutionary polyploidy within the species. Cytogenetic analyses have revealed varying chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 36, 42, and 72. This numerical variation suggests that the plant exists in different ploidy levels, where the presence of 72 chromosomes likely represents a hexaploid state derived from the doubling or combination of ancestral diploid or triploid lineages. Such genomic flexibility and chromosomal polymorphism are indicative of the species' ability to adapt to diverse environmental pressures through genome duplication and structural rearrangements.

Chromosome number :

36, 42, 72

Life history

The life history of Abutilon indicum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can exhibit variable durations depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural growth habit and life form, it is categorized as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennable buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground. Additionally, the species exhibits the life form of a therophyte, reflecting its ability to complete its life cycle through seed production and survive through dormant stages.

Life form :

therophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Abutilon indicum is characterized by its growth form as a subshrub or shrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure. As a terrestrial plant, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence in its habitat. The plant's stature is highly variable, with height measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 25 m, resulting in an observed mean plant height of 9.75 m. In terms of its climbing habit, it is categorized as a self-supporting plant rather than a vine, liana, or obligatory climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

9.75 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Abutilon indicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. The plant exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 7 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Abutilon indicum is characterized by the development of a schizocarp fruit type, which serves as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. This fruit structure is specifically dehiscent, meaning it splits open at maturity to release the seeds contained within. The resulting seeds are relatively small in size, typically measuring between a minimum of 2 mm and a maximum of 3 mm in length.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit type :

schizocarp

Seed length max:

3 mm

Seed length min:

2 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Abutilon indicum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Ayu

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Abutilon indicum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CHLOROFORM, Cryptolepine, ETHYL ACETATE.

Flavonoids

1. Ayu
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Parasitology research

CHLOROFORM

1. Parasitology research

Cryptolepine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Parasitology research

HEXANE

1. Parasitology research

Phenols

1. Ayu

Saponins

1. Ayu

Steroids

1. Ayu

methanol

1. Parasitology research

Activities

Abutilon indicum has 12 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antioxidant, Aphrodisiac, Astringent.

Analgesic

1. Ayu
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Die Pharmazie

Anthelmintic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Aphrodisiac

1. Ayu

Astringent

1. Ayu

Demulcent

1. Ayu

Digestive

1. Ayu

Diuretic

1. Ayu

Expectorant

1. Ayu

Hepatoprotective

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Conditions

Abutilon indicum has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, hemorrhoids, antihelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent.

Analgesic

1. Ayu
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Die Pharmazie

Hemorrhoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Antihelmintic

1. Ayu

Aphrodisiac

1. Ayu

Astringent

1. Ayu

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diuretic

1. Ayu

Expectorant

1. Ayu

Fever

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Gonorrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Abutilon indicum has 10 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts in organic solvents from the aerial parts and roots, chloroform extract, ethyl acetate extract, extracts, hexane extract.

Extracts in organic solvents from the aerial parts and roots

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Chloroform extract

1. Parasitology research

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Parasitology research

Extracts

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Hexane extract

1. Parasitology research

Methanol extract

1. Parasitology research

Methanolic seed extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

N-hexane and butanol fractions

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Paste

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Powder

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)