Melochia corchorifolia
Sp. Pl. 2: 675. 1753.
Herbs, annual or perennial, or subshrubs, to 2 m, taprooted. Leaves: petiole 0.3–5.5 cm; blade ovate to lanceolate, 1.3–9 × 1–7 cm, glabrate, hairs simple on veins. Inflorescences terminal, cymose glomerules, 10–25-flowered; bracteoles 3 or 4, immediately subtending flower. Flowers monomorphic; calyx 2–2.5 mm, teeth acute, distant and sinuses between them rounded; petals purple, pink, or white with yellow base, 3–6 × 1–1.5 mm; stamens and pistil equal, 2.5–3.2 mm. Fruits schizocarps, white, pink, green, purplish, or black, subglobose, not winged, not beaked, 4–5 × 5–6 mm, dehiscence loculicidal and then septicidal, fruit falling apart. Seeds 1 per locule. 2n = 36, 46.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting (spring–)summer–fall.
Habitat: Agricultural lands, open pinelands, meadows, waste ground, wet or dry soil
Elevation: 0–300(–1000) m
Distribution
Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Asia, Pacific Islands (East Indies, Papua New Guinea, Philippines), Australia (Queensland), introduced also in Central America (Panama), South America (Brazil), Africa.
Discussion
Selected References
None.