Abutilon

Description:

Tall shrub (2,10/2,20 m), with flexible stems. Its flowers are small, resembling a tiny hibiscus. On time, the flowers give way to star-shaped, bright red seed pods, each arm containing one seed. As they grow mature, the pods assume a dark brown, dry appearance and open up, releasing the seeds. The leaves are elongated, lanceolate, with a waxy surface, deep veins and slightly irregular borders. The photos show, in order: 1, flower; 2, new seed pod; 3, old seed pod, with seeds still inside; 4, leaf; and 5, a full view of the shrub (although it is not easy to distinguish this from the surrounding plants).

Notes:

Abutilon is a large genus of approximately 150 species of broadleaf evergreens in the mallow family, Malvaceae (Subfamily Malvoideae, Tribe Malveae). The genus includes annuals, perennials, shrubs, and small trees from 1–10 m tall, and is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of all continents. The leaves are alternate, unlobed or palmately lobed with 3-7 lobes. The flowers are conspicuous, with five petals, mostly red, pink, orange, yellow or white. Common names include Abutilon, Chinese Bell Flower, Chinese Lantern, Mallow, Indian Mallow, and Flowering Maple (for the maple-like leaves of some species, although the genus is not related to the true maples). The generic name is derived from the Arabic word Abu Tilon. Abutilon species are used as food plants by the larvae of some lepidoptera species including Yellow-banded Skipper (which feeds exclusively on A. avicennae) and Chionodes mariona. (Wikipedia)