Abutilon leaf trichomes. Scanning electron micrograph of trichomes from an abutilon leaf. Trichomes are specialised structures that may perform several functions, such as preventing water loss or deterring animals from eating the plant. Abutilon is a large genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The herbage is generally hairy to woolly or bristly. Magnification: x100, when printed at 10 centimetres wide.