| Melochia umbellata | |
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Scientific classification 
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| : | [[Template:Taxonomy/Melochia]] |
| Species: | Template:Taxonomy/MelochiaM. umbellata
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| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxonomy/MelochiaMelochia umbellata | |
| Synonyms | |
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Melochia umbellata is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its specific epithet comes from the Latin umbellatus (umbel-like), referring to the inflorescence.[2]
Description[edit | edit source]
Melochia umbellata is a shrub or small tree, growing to 2–15 m (6 ft 7 in – 49 ft 3 in) in height. It grows rapidly and is able to colonise disturbed land.[3] It has large, broadly ovate, leaves 90–300 mm long. The flowers are usually pale pink to red. The seeds are winged and wind-dispersed.[3]
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
The plant is native to a region extending from India eastwards through Southeast Asia to north-western Australia and New Guinea. It occurs in secondary vegetation and forest clearings, on rocky slopes and along the edges of rivers and forests, often in seasonally dry soil.[2]
It has been introduced elsewhere and is cultivated widely to provide shade for young trees in timber and coffee plantations. Melochia is relished by ruminants when offered as a cut-and-carry feed.[4] It has become an invasive weed on the [[Hawaii (island)|Island of HawaiTemplate:Okinai]] where it was extensively planted in the Hilo area during a 1920s reforestation program.[3]
References[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [{{#property:P1421|}} "{{#Property:P225}}"]. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2010-12-08.
{{citation}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flora of Australia Online.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Starr et al. (2003).
- ↑ Pers.comm.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Starr, Forest; Starr, Kim; & Loope, Lloyd (March 2003). "Melochia umbellata" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Melochia umbellata (Houtt.) Stapf". Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study. 1993. Retrieved 2010-12-01.