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Abutilon theophrasti Prague 2017 3.jpg  Abutilon theophrasti Prague 2017 1.jpg    Abutilon theophrasti 2006.10.11 17.01.39-pa110057.jpg 

 

NAME: Velvetleaf Mallow

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Abutilon Theophrasti / Malvaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Indian Velvet Leaf, China Jute, China Mallow

CONDITIONS:  Sun
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

 

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

       

Buds/Flowers

       

Fruits

 

RAW/COOK

Summer

Roots

       

Seeds

cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

 

RAW/COOK

Summer

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Pods

 

 

 

 

Stalk

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT:  Seeds - raw or cooked. They can be eaten raw when they are under-ripe. The ripe seed is dried and ground into a powder then used in soups, bread etc. It is washed first to remove any bitterness. Unripe fruit - raw. This is really more of a seedpod. (1) In other species flowers and or young leaves are edible.(2)

 

CAUTION:

 

NUTRITION:  The seed contains about 17.4% protein, 16% fat, 33.8% carbohydrate, 4.4% ash (1)

 

MEDICINAL:  Astringent;  Demulcent;  Diuretic;  Emollient;  Laxative;  Ophthalmic;  Poultice;  Stomachic. (1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Fibre;  Oil;  Paper.  A fibre obtained from the stems is used as a jute substitute. It is coarse but flexible and strong. It is also used in rope-making. It takes dyes well. The fibre is also used for making paper, the stems are harvested in the summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed in order to remove the fibres. The seeds contain about 19% of a semi-drying oil. (1) As a fiber source in Asia it has been used for rope, bags, coarse cloth, fishing nets, paper stock even caulking boats, leaves used as toilet paper (2)
 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Abutilon+theophrasti
  2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/velvet-leaf-fiber-and-food/
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abutilon_theophrasti
  4. https://commonsensehome.com/velvetleaf (good photos)