Abroma augusta 'Devil's Cotton'

 

 

CLIK name to see video Abroma augustum

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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.

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 an characteristic and unusual appearance. It is widely distributed in Asia. It grows very well almost all over the planet. It thrives in the Southern and South eastern area of Louisiana. 

It tolerates the hot and humid Summers and thrives.

The leaves and stems are covered with soft bristly hairs that are very irritating to the touch. The bark yields a jute-like fiber.

The species was first described, as Theobroma augustum (or Theobroma augusta) by Carl Linnaeus in 1768.^[3]

Cultivation

In the Summer months the plant blooms. The flowers do resemble those of Abutilon species.

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).