33. Malachra Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 12. 2: 458. 1767; Mant. Pl., 1: 13. 1767.
[Ancient name, perhaps from Greek malache, mallow] [Ancient name, perhaps from Greek malache, mallow]
Paul A. Fryxell
Steven R. Hill
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.
Species 8–10 (2 in the flora): sc United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America; introduced in Asia (including Malesia), Africa.
