Indian mallow

noun

1

: any of several abutilons

especially : a tall annual herb (Abutilon theophrasti) that has velvety cordate leaves and yellow flowers, yields a long strong fiber for which it is sometimes cultivated, and is native to India but widely naturalized as an escape in warm and temperate regions

called also velvetleaf

2

[Indian entry 2 2] : a tropical American weed (Sida spinosa) with pale yellow or orange flowers that has been introduced into the U.S. and is found especially in the southern U.S.

Word History

Etymology

Indian entry 2 1

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