Abutilon austro-africanum floral profile

In profile the flower of Abutilon austro-africanum reveals its widely bell-shaped calyx, green and hairy. Whereas the leaf blade hairs are very short and velvety, the hairs on the calyx, flower pedicel and leaf petiole tend to be long and soft as seen in the photo.

The long calyx lobes bulge in their lower parts, attenuate like erect mouse-tails at the top. The midrib of the calyx lobe is conspicuous.

The yellow outer surfaces of the petals are about twice as tall as the calyx, overlapping and showing faint vein-lines up their orange-yellow surfaces (iSpot; JSTOR; www.kyffhauser.co.za).