Abutilon fraseri commonly known as dwarf lantern-flower,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with yellow flowers.

Dwarf lantern-flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abutilon
Species:
A. fraseri
Binomial name
Abutilon fraseri

Description edit

Abutilon fraseri is a small upright undershrub to 40 cm (16 in) high and covered with soft, short, star-shaped hairs and long simple hairs. The leaves are more or less circular to oval-shaped, 1.5–5 cm (0.59–1.97 in) long, heart-shaped at the base, margins roughly toothed, scalloped, rounded or almost pointed at the apex . The calyx about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, corolla yellow, 15 mm (0.59 in) long, lobes broadly lance-shaped and longer than the floral tube. Flowering occurs mostly in spring and summer and the usually 10 fruit are 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) in diameter and 7 mm (0.28 in) long, green and containing 2 seeds.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming edit

Abutilon fraseri was first formally described in 1851 by Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers from an unpublished description by William Jackson Hooker and the description was published in Annales Botanices Systematicae.[4][5] The specific epithet (fraseri) is in honour of Malcolm Fraser.[6]

Distribution and habitat edit

Dwarf lantern-flower grows in rocky situations in Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Abutilon fraseri". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Mitchell, A.S.; Norris, E.H. "Abutilon fraseri". PlantNET-NSW Flora online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Abutilon fraseri". eFloraSA-Electronic Flora of South Australia. State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ Walpers, Wilhelm (1851). Annales Botanices Systematicae. p. 158.
  5. ^ "Abutilon fraseri". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ^ George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 259. ISBN 9780958034197.