''Melochia umbellata'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

comes from the Latin ''umbellatus'' (umbel-like), referring to the inflorescence.

Description

''Melochia umbellata'' is a shrub or small tree, growing to 2–15 m in height. It grows rapidly and is able to colonise disturbed land.Starr et al. (2003). It has large, broadly ovate,

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

90–300 mm long. The flowers are usually pale pink to red. The seeds are winged and wind-dispersed.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to a region extending from India eastwards through Southeast Asia to north-western

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

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.Flora of Australia Online. 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.Pers.comm. It has become an

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

weed on the Island of Hawaii where it was extensively planted in the

Hilo Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Hawaii (island), Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 United ...

area during a 1920s reforestation program.

References

Notes

Sources

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External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6813281 Byttnerioideae Plants described in 1913 Flora of tropical Asia Flora of Christmas Island Flora of Western Australia