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Lytle, Melody

Allowissadula holosericea (Scheele) Bates

Chisos Mountain false Indianmallow, Chisos Mtn. False Indian-mallow, Velvet-leaf Mallow

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

Synonyms: Wissadula holosericea

USDA Symbol: ALHO4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

An attractive and eye-catching, but coarse-textured, shrub that reaches about 5 feet in height. Its large, chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves are velvety to the touch. Velvet-leaf Mallow has a long flowering season which lasts as long as the weather is warm. Its orange-yellow five-petaled flowers are lovely and attractive to pollinators. The native habitat of this species is on dry, rocky soil in open woodlands on the Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos in Texas and in southern New Mexico and northern Mexico.

Velvet-leaf Mallow is a good choice for a background plant in a xeric garden bed.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Leaf Shape: Cordate
Leaf Pubescence: Stellate
Leaf Margin: Crenate , Dentate , Lobed
Leaf Base: Cordate
Leaf Texture: Leathery
Breeding System: Hermaphroditic
Inflorescence: Axillary , Terminal , Corymb , Panicle
Fruit Type: Capsule

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: NM , TX
Native Habitat: In dry, rocky soils of the Edwards Plateau and in the Trans-Pecos. Well-drained sand, loam, clay, limestone soils.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Conditions Comments: Velvet-leaf mallow is striking for its large, heart-shaped leaves and their luxurious texture and for delicate orange flowers. Over the course of the growing season, the plant may become bare underneath. The plant looks attractive with white mistflower, lantana, or big muhly planted in front of it.
texas comments: Velvet-leaf mallow is striking for its large, heart-shaped leaves, luxurious texture and delicate orange flowers. Over the course of the growing season, the plant may become bare underneath. It looks attractive with white mistflower, lantana, or big muhly planted in front of it.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Common Checkered Skipper, Texas Powdered Skipper, Common Streaky-Skipper
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Allowissadula holosericea is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Texas Powdered Skipper
(Systasea pulverulenta)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Common Streaky-Skipper
(Celotes nessus)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Collection: Collect seed in fall. Seeds prone to weevils.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Bibliography

A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
A Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Allowissadula holosericea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Allowissadula holosericea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Allowissadula holosericea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-05-30
Research By: TWC Staff, LAL, MWJ

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