Wissadula

Medikus

Malvenfam., 24. 1787.

Etymology: Presumably Sinhalese wissa, poison, and duvili, dust or powder common name wissaduli used for plants of Centipeda minima (Linnaeus) A. Braun & Ascherson and misapplied here
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 374. Mentioned on page 216.

Subshrubs [perennial herbs]. Stems usually erect, hairy [glabrate], not viscid. Leaves distalmost sometimes subsessile; stipules usually persistent, filiform, subulate, or minute; blade broadly ovate to ovate-triangular [narrowly triangular], unlobed, base cordate, margins entire [crenate-dentate], surfaces usually stellate-hairy [sometimes glabrate]. Inflorescences terminal panicles or racemes; involucel absent. Flowers: calyx not accrescent, not inflated, shorter than mature fruits, lobes not ribbed, triangular; corolla usually yellowish, sometimes white, rotate; staminal column exserted; style 3–6-branched; stigmas capitate. Fruits schizocarps, erect, not inflated, obovoid, not indurate; mericarps 3–6, 2-celled, apex bulbous-apiculate, proximal cell indehiscent, distal cell dehiscent. Seeds (1–)3 per mericarp, lower cell 1-seeded, upper cell usually 2-seeded, hairy, proximal seed relatively more densely hairy. x = 7.

Distribution

sc United States, Mexico, West Indies, South America, s Asia, Africa.

Discussion

Species 25 (3 in the flora).

Key

1 Leaf blades 2.5–3.5 cm, apex acute to subobtuse; stipules minute; petals yellow, fading to orange. Wissadula parvifolia
1 Leaf blades 4–11 cm, apex acute or acuminate; stipules 4–12 mm; petals usually yellowish or white, sometimes with dark red basal spot > 2
2 Leaf blades broadly ovate, base deeply cordate (except uppermost), margins curved; petals yellowish; stipules 7–12 mm. Wissadula hernandioides
2 Leaf blades ovate-triangular, base shallowly cordate, margins straight; petals yellowish or white, sometimes with dark red basal spot; stipules 4–5 mm. Wissadula periplocifolia
... more about "Wissadula"
Paul A. Fryxell† +  and Steven R. Hill +
Medikus +
sc United States +, Mexico +, West Indies +, South America +, s Asia +  and Africa. +
Presumably Sinhalese wissa, poison, and duvili, dust or powder +  and common name wissaduli used for plants of Centipeda minima (Linnaeus) A. Braun & Ascherson and misapplied here +
Malvenfam., +
fries1908a +
Wissadula +
Malvaceae subfam. Malvoideae +