Herbs, annual or perennial, subshrubs, or shrubs [trees], erect, spreading, or decumbent, taprooted. Stems unarmed, hairy, hairs usually simple and/or stellate, sometimes also glandular. Leaves petiolate; stipules usually deciduous, linear-lanceolate; blade: margins rarely present; anthers 2-thecate; ovary 5-locular; ovules 2 per locule; styles 5, distinct or basally connate, filiform; stigmas included, decurrent on style, papillose. Fruits capsules, pyramidal and 5-winged, or schizocarps, subglobular and not winged, dehiscence loculicidal, sometimes also septicidal, fruit then falling apart. Seeds 1 or 2 per locule, obovoid, with 2 flat sides and 1 rounded, smooth; endosperm present, fleshy; embryo straight; cotyledon flat. x = 7, 9, 10.

Distribution

c, se United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia, tropical and subtropical areas.

Discussion

Species ca. 60 (4 in the flora).

Selected References

Goldberg, A. 1967. The genus Melochia L. (Sterculiaceae). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 34: 191–363.

Lower Taxa

Melochia corchorifolia, Melochia pyramidata, Melochia tomentosa, Melochia villosa

Key

1	Inflorescences: bracteoles at base of pedicel; fruits pyramidal, 5-winged, 7–14 mm diam	> 2
1	Inflorescences: bracteoles immediately subtending flower; fruits subglobose, not winged, 2.5–6 mm diam	> 3
2	Leaf blades glabrous or glabrate, hairs mostly simple; inflorescences usually leaf-opposed; fruits often purple-blotched.	Melochia pyramidata
2	Leaf blades tomentulose and canescent, hairs stellate; inflorescences usually axillary; fruits not purple-blotched.	Melochia tomentosa
3	Inflorescences spikelike; petals 8–11 mm; flowers dimorphic (pistil and stamens of unequal lengths varying inversely in different plants); fruits capsules.	Melochia villosa
3	Inflorescences terminal and axillary, cymose glomerules; petals 3–6 mm; flowers monomorphic (pistil and stamens of equal lengths); fruits schizocarps.	Melochia corchorifolia