Bush mallow
Abutilon mauritianum

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 100-160 Abutilon species. It can become a serious weed.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along roadsides and on a variety of soils from sea level to 2,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young tender leaves and flowers are cooked and eaten. They are often cooked in oil and with other ingredients like peanuts.

Probably minor.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Leaves and flowers are collected during the wet season.

Its other names

Local names

Chitube, Fiefie, Umukuungeri, Zambira

Synonyms

Abutilon zanzibaricum Boj. ex Mast.; Pavonia patens; Sida mauritiana Jacq.;