Abutilon pictum, Callianthe picta - Redvein Abutilon, Chinese Lantern, Painted Mallow Seeds

Description

Callianthe picta is a native to subtropical and tropical regions of South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, it is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree. Despite its common name, it is not a true maple but gets the name from its maple-like, lobed leaves.

The plant is most famous for its showy, bell-shaped flowers that droop downwards like Chinese lanterns. These flowers are typically yellow or orange with distinctive, prominent dark red or purple veins, which gives rise to its specific epithet picta, meaning painted. Callianthe picta is a popular ornamental plant in gardens with mild climates and can also be grown as a houseplant. The plant was formerly classified under the genus Abutilon as Abutilon pictum, but recent molecular studies have led to its reclassification into the genus Callianthe.