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Abutilon theophrasti

Basic information
Scientific name Abutilon theophrasti

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Common names Chinese jute, Chinese lantern Button weed, Velvetleaf, Chingma Abutilon, Piemarker, Indian mallow
Higher taxon Malvaceae, Malvales, Magnoliopsida, Magnoliophyta
Natural range India
Habitat Farm area, roadside, vacancy, pasture, etc.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Almost entire Japan. Range in Japan
Origin Unknown.
Date The first establishment record was in 1905.
Route Deliberate: As fiber crop
Accidental: With cattle feed (corn, soy bean).
Impact Competition with native species, crops, pasture. Allelopathy. Contamination to cattle feed cause quality loss of milk. Disturbing corn hervester. Parasite (fungi)
Native organism(s) affected: Native grasses, crops, pasture, etc.
Regulation in Japan Keeping this species is prohibited in Shiga Pref.
Introduced range in other countries Asia, S Europe, N Africa, Australia, North America, etc.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Hotta et al. (1989) Useful Plants of the World. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Jpn Assoc Advanc Phyto-Regul & Inst Contr Agrochem, Minist Agr, China (2000) Chinese Colored Weed Illustrated Book. Zenkoku-Noson-Kyoiku-Kyokai, Tokyo
  • Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The Invasive Alien Species Act (Accessed on 2011-1-19) http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/as.html (in Jpn)
  • Shimizu (ed) (2003) Naturalized Plants of Japan. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • etc.
100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species