Plants of
South Australia
Abutilon cryptopetalum ssp. cryptopetalum
Malvaceae
Hill Lantern-bush
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock painting: 1

Prior names

Sida cryptopetala

Abutilon cryptopetalum, partly

Etymology

Abutilon from the Arabic 'aubutilun' used for mallow-like plant and quoted by the Arabian physician Avicenna as belonging to this or some allied genus. Cryptopetalum from the Greek 'krypto' meaning hidden and 'petalon' meaning petals, referring to the petals being short and enclosed by the calyx.

Distribution and status

Found in the northern part of South Australia, growing on rockyor gravelly hills or rises, on breakaways and on sandplains.  Also found in Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula
NRM regions: Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, South Australian Arid Lands
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Upright straggly perennial herb or subshrub to 100 cm tall, covered in velvety hairs. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, to 7 cm long. Flowers creamy yellow or pale yellow, scarcely exceeding the calyx. Flowering possible all year round depending on rainfall. Fruit capsule nearly as long as the calyx comprising of 7-10 segments which open at an acutely pointed tip.  Seeds are dark brown covered in hairs. Seed embryo type is folded.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds possibly all year round depending on rainfall. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning pale straw colour and contain dark hard seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. This species has physical dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate (e.g. nicking or softening the seed coat).

Seeds stored:
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LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA2,750 (4.68 g)40+17-Apr-2011KHB567
Flinders Ranges
24-Jun-202086%-18°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.