I used an app on my phone to identify the plant pictured. It is the velvet leaf mallow which is growing wild in our yard. The app states the plant is consider exotic in the United States and is native to southern Asia.
Since it is not native to the United States then it is Exotic. Or is it? This plant was imported to the USA before 1750 as a potential fiber crop for the American colonies. Farmers have raised the velvet leaf mallow for over a century for commercial fiber production.
The yellow flowers can produce over 6,000 seeds on just one plant. Due to this, it spreads very easily and is considered to be an invasive species.
I need you to tell me how can a plant that has been in the USA for over 200 years still be considered exotic just because it is native to a location that is on the other side of the world?
