Indian abutilon
StarAbutilon indicum
Synonyms: Abutilon elongatum
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In the traditional medicine of the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia, Abutilon indicum is a widely used herb. The mucilaginous leaves and seeds are valued as demulcents and the seeds as a mild laxative, while leaf decoctions and poultices are applied to wounds, ulcers and inflammations; the root is used for urinary and febrile complaints and the whole plant for respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935; The Wealth of India, 1948). It is a recognised drug in the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems.
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Botanical Description
Abutilon indicum, the Indian mallow or country mallow (Atibala), is an erect, softly woody shrub or subshrub of the mallow family (Malvaceae) widespread across the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa and beyond, growing as a common weed of roadsides, waste ground and field margins. It reaches 1-2.5 m tall, with rounded, densely velvety-hairy stems. The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate to nearly circular with a heart-shaped base and a long, pointed tip, toothed margins and a soft, grey-green, velvety surface, borne on long petioles. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils on long stalks, with five spreading orange-yellow petals opening in the late afternoon. The distinctive fruit is a flattened, disc-shaped schizocarp of 15-20 radiating, beaked carpels (mericarps) arranged like the segments of an orange, each containing dark seeds.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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