Abroma augustum

Abroma augustum, sometimes written Abroma augusta,^[2] Devil's cotton, is a species of Abroma (Sterculiaceae, or Malvaceae in some classifications). It has dark red flowers with a characteristic and unusual appearance. It is widely distributed in Asia. It was previously thought to grow in north Queensland but the most recent survey did not find it.

Abroma augustum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Abroma
Species:	A. augustum
Binomial name
Abroma augustum (L.) L.f.
Synonyms[1]
Abroma alata Blanco Abroma angulata Lam. Abroma angulosa Poir. Abroma communis Blanco Abroma denticulata Miq. Abroma elongata Lam. Abroma fastuosum Jacq.[citation needed] Abroma javanica Miq. Abroma mariae Mart. Abroma mollis DC. Abroma obliqua C.Presl Abroma sinuosa G.Nicholson Abroma wheleri Retz. Ambroma augustum (L.) L. f. Herrania mariae (Mart.) Decne. ex Goudot Theobroma augustum L. Theobroma mariae (Mart.) K. Schum.

The leaves and stems are covered with soft bristly hairs that are very irritating to the touch. The bark yields a jute-like fiber. It is used as a traditional medicinal plant.^[3]

The species was first described, as Theobroma augustum (or Theobroma augusta) by Carl Linnaeus in 1768.^[4]

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  mature fruit

Cultivation

In the greenhouse, plants bloom from late spring to early summer. Dark maroon flowers are formed in terminal panicles. Individual flowers are up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) across.

Abroma augustum is propagated from seed. Seed germinate in 21–30 days at 72 °F (24 °C).