Velvetleaf

abutilon theophrasti

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) is a tall, erect annual plant in the mallow family, native to southern Asia. It is widely recognized in North America and Europe as an aggressive agricultural weed that invades corn, soybean, and cotton fields, causing significant crop yields losses due to its rapid growth and competitive nature. Despite its reputation as an unwanted weed, velvetleaf has a rich history in Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years for its tough stem fibers, which are used to make rope, paper, and coarse cloth.

Lebensraum: Commonly found in cultivated agricultural fields, disturbed soils, roadsides, gardens, and waste areas where sunlight is abundant.

Aussehen

Growing up to 2.5 meters tall, velvetleaf features stout, branching stems covered in fine, velvety hairs. Its most distinctive feature is its large, heart-shaped leaves, which can reach 15 to 20 cm in width and are incredibly soft to the touch. In the summer, small, five-petaled, yellow-to-orange flowers emerge from the leaf joints. These blooms are followed by unique cup-shaped seed capsules composed of 12 to 15 hairy, spine-tipped segments arranged in a ring, resembling a miniature pie crust or a button.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungMalvalesFamilieMalvaceaeGattungAbutilon

Velvetleaf

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

A single velvetleaf plant can produce up to 17,000 seeds, helping it rapidly colonize fields once established.

Its seeds are so tough that they can pass through the digestive tracts of grazing livestock unscathed and still germinate successfully in manure.

The seed pods are often referred to as 'butterprints' or 'buttonweeds' because their circular, textured shape mimics historical wooden butter stamps.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Its seeds possess a hard coat that allows them to remain viable in the soil for 50 years or more, waiting for favorable conditions to emerge.

It releases chemical compounds from its roots and decaying tissue that inhibit the germination and growth of neighboring plants.

It grows incredibly fast, positioning its broad leaves to block sunlight from reaching and competing with neighboring vegetation.

Maße und Details

Länge: 100+ cm
Gewicht: 0.1+ kg
Lebenserwartung: 1+ Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

As an autotrophic plant, velvetleaf generates its own energy through photosynthesis, converting sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into sugars while absorbing essential minerals from the soil.

Hauptnahrung

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Nitrogen
Phosphorus

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

competitor

Corn

Zea mays

Competes fiercely for soil nutrients, moisture, and sunlight in domestic crop fields.

eaten by

Scentless Plant Bug

Niesthrea louisianica

The bugs feed specifically on the developing seeds of velvetleaf, significantly reducing the plant's reproductive output.

mutualism

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Bees visit the bright yellow flowers to gather nectar and pollen, acting as effective pollinators.

Merkmale

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Velvetleaf?

Der einfachste Weg, Velvetleaf zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Velvetleaf?

100+ cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Velvetleaf?

0.1+ kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Velvetleaf?

1+ Jahre

Was frisst Velvetleaf?

As an autotrophic plant, velvetleaf generates its own energy through photosynthesis, converting sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into sugars while absorbing essential minerals from the soil.

Wo findet man Velvetleaf normalerweise?

Commonly found in cultivated agricultural fields, disturbed soils, roadsides, gardens, and waste areas where sunlight is abundant.