9. Melochia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 674 [as 774]. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 304. 1754.
Broom-wood [Arabic melóchich, name for Corchorus olitorius Linnaeus, a salad plant in the East]
Aaron Goldberg
Moluchia Medikus; Physodium C. Presl
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 serrate, surfaces glabrous or subglabrous to tomentose, hairs usually simple and/or stellate. Inflorescences axillary, leaf-opposed, or terminal, umbels or spikelike or cymose glomerules, (2–)5–25-flowered; epicalyx sometimes present; bracteoles immediately subtending flower or at base of pedicel. Flowers: dimorphic (pistil and stamens of unequal lengths varying inversely in different plants), or monomorphic (pistil and stamens of equal lengths); sepals basally connate; petals sometimes with tuft of hair between blade and claw; androgynophore rarely present; stamens and carpels opposite petals; stamens connate at least basally; staminodes 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.
Species ca. 60 (4 in the flora): c, se United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia; tropical and subtropical areas.
SELECTED REFERENCE Goldberg, A. 1967. The genus Melochia L. (Sterculiaceae). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 34: 191–363.
