1. A shrubby perennial with palmately lobed furry leaves and purple flowers; native to southwestern Europe and northern Africa
   "velvetleaf grew wild along the desert slopes";
   - tree mallow, velvet-leaf, Lavatera arborea
    
2. Tall annual herb or subshrub of tropical Asia having velvety leaves and yellow flowers and yielding a strong fibre
   "velvetleaf has naturalized in parts of the United States";
   - velvet-leaf, velvetweed, Indian mallow, butter-print, China jute, Abutilon theophrasti

Derived forms: velvet-leafs

Type of: bush, mallow, shrub

Part of: Abutilon, genus Abutilon, genus Lavatera, Lavatera

Encyclopedia: Velvetleaf