Malachra

Herbs or subshrubs, annual or perennial. Stems erect, puberulent or hispid, not viscid. Leaves: stipules persistent, filiform; blade broadly ovate, lyrate, or palmately 3–5-lobed, base rounded or truncate, margins crenate or serrate, surfaces usually hairy. Inflorescences axillary [or terminal], headlike racemes, subtended by prominently veined, sessile or subsessile, boat-shaped bracts; involucel absent [present]. Flowers: calyx not accrescent, not inflated, deeply divided, lobes unribbed or somewhat ribbed, lanceolate-ovate, hispid; corolla yellow, [white or lavender]; staminal column included; styles 10-branched; stigmas capitate. Fruits schizocarps, erect, not inflated, oblate, not indurate, glabrous or puberulent; mericarps 5, 1-celled, without dorsal spur, smooth, indehiscent. Seeds 1 per mericarp, glabrous. x = 28.

Distribution

sc United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, introduced in Asia (including Malesia), Africa.

Discussion

Species 8–10 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Malachra capitata, Malachra urens

Key

1	Peduncles usually exceeding corresponding petioles; floral bracts deeply cordate; herbage stellate-hairy; fruits glabrous.	Malachra capitata
1	Peduncles shorter than corresponding petioles; floral bracts ovate; herbage hispid; fruits minutely puberulent to pubescent.	Malachra urens