Melochia corchorifolia

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 675. 1753.

Common names: Chocolate weed hirsute melochia redweed
IllustratedIntroducedWeedy
Synonyms: Riedlea corchorifolia (Linnaeus) de Candolle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 211. Mentioned on page 210.

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

V6 379-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; 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.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Melochia corchorifolia"
Aaron Goldberg† +
Linnaeus +
Chocolate weed +, hirsute melochia +  and redweed +
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) +  and Africa. +
0–300(–1000) m +
Agricultural lands, open pinelands, meadows, waste ground, wet or dry soil +
Flowering and fruiting (spring–)summer–fall. +
Illustrated +, Introduced +  and Weedy +
Riedlea corchorifolia +
Melochia corchorifolia +
Melochia +
species +