velvetleaf
velvetleaf, (Abutilon theophrasti), annual hairy plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae) native to southern Asia. The plant is cultivated in northern China for its fibre and is widely naturalized in warmer regions of North America, where it is often a serious agricultural weed. It grows 0.6β2.4 metres (2β8 feet) tall and has heart-shaped downy leaves. It bears five-petaled yellow flowers and beaked seedpods.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
Citation Information
Article Title:
velvetleaf
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
14 May 2019
Access Date:
November 13, 2026