The flowering maple (Abutilon pictum) is not a maple (genus Acer), but a member of the Malvaceae, the hibiscus and cotton family. The plant is believed native to Brazil, but is widely cultivated and naturalized throughout the tropics. In California and the southern U.S., it is grown outdoors particularly by hummingbird enthusiasts. A cultivar, Abutilon pictum cv. 'Thompsonii' is infected with a benign virus which causes a yellow mottling of the leaves.

There appears to be some mystery concerning the discovery of the flowering maple. The Gillies following the botanical name is John Gillies (b. 1747, d.1836), the Historiographer Royal of Scotland. In 1786, he wrote History of Ancient Greece, in 1807, History of the World from Alexander to Augustus. He also wrote of Frederick II of Prussia and did translations of Aristotle.

It appears that John Gillies was in South America in the 1820s. One wonders what a scholarly man in his 70s was doing in the wilds of South America. It is said he discovered moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) near the foot of the Andes on the western edge of the Argentine pampas. Gillies is mentioned on lists of botanical authorities, but almost nothing is written about his discoveries. When did he find the flowering maple and where?

The State Library of New South Wales has a copy of a letter written by Sir Joseph Banks concerning John Gillies. To view the letter, click on the link:

http://www.slnsw.gov.au/Banks/images/830263.jpg