Abutilon incanum

Description:

Mao, Ilima pua kea or Hoary abutilon Malvaceae (Mallow family)Indigenous(?) to the Hawaiian Islands (All main islands except Hawaii Island) Native to the Sonara Desert (s.w. Arizona, Baja, and Sinaloa in n. Mexico), Colorado, New Mexico, Texas (Edwards Plateau to w. Texas), and in Hawaii.Photographed in Kalaeloa, OahuHawaiian NamesIlima pua kea is literally translated "the ilima with white flowers" and Kooloa kea is "the white kooloa." Both names refer to similar other native family members: ilima (Sida fallax) and kooloa ula (Abutilon menziesii), respectively.Mao is also the name used for the native cotton (Gossypium tomentosum), but also means "green."Early Hawaiians dried flowers and root bark were pounded together with other plants, and liquid was heated and used for stomachaches. Also, a green (maomao) dye was made from the leaves of mao.EtymologyThe generic name Abutilon is derived from the Arabic awbtln (ab ln), for malvaceous (mallow-like) plants.The specific epithet incanum is from the Latin incanus, hoary-white or grey- or white-haired, in reference to the whitish fuzz that cover these plants.NPH00003nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Abutilon_incanum