Abutilon incanum
Encyclopedia
Abutilon icanum, also known as hoary abutilon, pelotazo, pelotazo chico, tronadora, and mao (Hawaii
), is a shrub
widespread throughout the arid, warm regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico as well as Hawaii
.
It grows to between 0.5–2 m (1.6–6.6 ft) in height; the leaves are ovate to lance-ovate in shape, with crenate margins, and sizes ranging from 0.5–3 cm (0.196850393700787–1.2 in) in width and 1.5–6 cm (0.590551181102362–2.4 in) in length. The solitary 5-petaled flower
s are generally orange; in ssp. incanum they are 6–10 mm (0.236220472440945–0.393700787401575 in) long and orange-yellow, while in ssp. pringlei they are just 4–6 mm (0.15748031496063–0.236220472440945 in) and a deep orange with maroon spots. The 5–8 mm (0.196850393700787–0.31496062992126 in) fruits are capsules with 4-6 cells.
It favors rocky slopes and gravelly flats, and occurs in arroyos
, at elevations up to 1370 metres (4,494.8 ft). Requiring warm-season rain and mild winters, it is found in the Sonoran Desert
, but not the Mojave Desert
. In Hawaii, mao can be found growing in dry forests
and low shrublands
at elevations from sea level to 220 metres (721.8 ft).
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
), is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
widespread throughout the arid, warm regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico as well as Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
It grows to between 0.5–2 m (1.6–6.6 ft) in height; the leaves are ovate to lance-ovate in shape, with crenate margins, and sizes ranging from 0.5–3 cm (0.196850393700787–1.2 in) in width and 1.5–6 cm (0.590551181102362–2.4 in) in length. The solitary 5-petaled flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are generally orange; in ssp. incanum they are 6–10 mm (0.236220472440945–0.393700787401575 in) long and orange-yellow, while in ssp. pringlei they are just 4–6 mm (0.15748031496063–0.236220472440945 in) and a deep orange with maroon spots. The 5–8 mm (0.196850393700787–0.31496062992126 in) fruits are capsules with 4-6 cells.
It favors rocky slopes and gravelly flats, and occurs in arroyos
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
, at elevations up to 1370 metres (4,494.8 ft). Requiring warm-season rain and mild winters, it is found in the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
, but not the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. In Hawaii, mao can be found growing in dry forests
Hawaiian tropical dry forests
The Hawaiian tropical dry forests are a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. They cover an area of on the leeward side of the main islands and the summits of Niihau and Kahoolawe. These forests are either seasonal or sclerophyllous. Annual rainfall is less than and...
and low shrublands
Hawaiian tropical low shrublands
The Hawaiian tropical low shrublands are a tropical savanna ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. These shrublands cover an area of in the leeward lowlands of the main islands and most of the smaller islands, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The ecoregion includes both grasslands and...
at elevations from sea level to 220 metres (721.8 ft).