Melochia villosa
Fl. Jamaica 5: 165. 1926.
Basionym: Sida villosa Miller Gard. Dict. ed. 8, Sida no. 6. 1768
Synonyms: Melochia hirsuta Cavanilles M. hirsuta var. glabrescens (C. Presl) A. Gray M. serrata (C. Presl) Small Riedlea glabrescens (Cavanilles) A. de Candolle R. hirsuta Ventenat R. serrata
Herbs, perennial, rarely shrubs, 0.3–2 m, taprooted. Stems erect or spreading, usually branched. Leaves: petiole acute; petals pink, purple, or violet, 8–11 × 2–3 mm; longistylous form: stamens 4–6 mm, filaments completely connate, pistil 7–8 mm; brevistylous form: stamens 5–8 mm, pistil 4–5 mm. Fruits capsules, brown, subglobose, not winged, not beaked, obscurely obtusely 5-angled, 2–3.5 × 2.5–4 mm, dehiscence loculicidal, tardily septicidal, fruit falling apart. Seeds usually 1 per locule.
Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Wet or dry pinelands and savanna
Elevation: 0–2300 m
Distribution
Fla., Ga., La., Mexico, West Indies (Greater Antilles), South America.
Discussion
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.