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(Last Modified On 1/29/2013)
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(Last Modified On 1/29/2013)
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Genus
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MELOCHIA L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 774. 1753
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Reference
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Gen. PI. ed. 5, 304, 1754.
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Synonym
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Visenia Houtt., Nat. Hist. 2(8): 308. 1778. Altheria Du Petit-Thouars, Gen. Nov. Madag. 19. 1806 (1808?). Riedlea Ventenat, Mem. Math. Phys. Inst. Nat. Fr. 1: 2. 1807. Mougeotia H. B. K., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 5: 326. 1823. Aleurodendron Reinwardt, Syll. PI. Nov. (Ratisb.) 2: 12. 1828. Polychlaena G. Don, Gen. Syst. Gard. Bot. 1: 488. 1831. Physodium Presl, Rel. Haenk. 2: 150. 1835. Lochemia Arnott, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser.2, 11: 172, 1839. Anamorpha Karst. & Triana, Linnaea 28: 443. 1856. Physocodon Turcz., Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou 31(1): 212. 1858.
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Description
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Herbs, undershrubs or shrubs, infrequently small trees, the pubescence of simple or stellate hairs, sometimes of gland-tipped hairs. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate, stipulate, the stipules deciduous, the blade crenate or serrate, usually 5- nerved at the base. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, rarely oppositifolious, panic- uliform or of cymose clusters, the clusters sessile or pedunculate, forming some- times interrupted or continuous, leafy spikes. Flowers hermaphrodite, actinomor- phous, often heterostyled, sessile or pedicellate, generally bracteolate, the bracts persistent; calyx gamosepalous, 5(6)-lobate or -lobulate, persistent or sometimes accrescent; petals 5, unguiculate at the base, more or less long-adnate to the base of the staminal tube, contorted, marcescent; stamens 5, more or less long-monadel- phous, the anthers 2-thecate, the thecae parallel, extrorse, more or less medifixus, longitudinally dehiscent; staminodes none or infrequently obsolete; ovary sessile or sometimes shortly stipitate, 5-celled, the cells oppositipetalous, 2-ovulate; styles 5, free or connate at the base, the stigmas minutely tuberculate or plumose-papil- late. Capsules sessile or shortly stipitate, globose and 5-lobate or pyramidal and sometimes 5-winged, 5-celled, each cell 1-seeded, rarely 2-seeded, the dehiscence either loculicidal or septicidal, the capsule separating into 5 cocci, each coccus opening by the inner angle or splitting completely into 2 valves; seeds small, ascending, 3-angular, dorsally convex, rarely winged, albuminous; embryo straight; cotyledons flat.
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Habit
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Herb shrub
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Distribution
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A pantropical genus of about 65 species, especially well represented in tropical America; five species, of which one is introduced (M. corchorifolia), are reported at the present time from Panama.
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Key
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a. Cocci opening along the inner angle. b. Inflorescences of solitary or mostly fascicled, shortly pedunculate, umbelli- form cymes; flowers shortly pedicellate, the pedicel 2.2-3 mm. long; calyx much-accrescent; petals white; ovary very shortly stipitate .... 1. M. LUPULINA bb. Inflorescences of dense, sessile or subsessile, more or less globose clusters; flowers sessile or subsessile; calyx persistent; petals pink; ovary sessile ...........................................................2. M. NODIFLORA aa. Cocci splitting completely into 2 valves. c. Inflorescences of axillary or terminal, sessile or shortly pedunculate cymes; flowers 2.5-5.5 mm. long; staminal tube glabrous; leaves long-petiolate, sparsely pubescent. d. Inflorescences and flowers sessile or subsessile; calyx outside and cap- sules hispidulous and with simple or stellate hairs; ovary sericeous; styles free. e. Young stems hispidulous all round; flowers 2.5-3.4 mm. long; calyx ca. 1.5-2 mm. long; capsule ca. 1.8-2.5 mm. long and 2.5-3 mm. in diam.; seed ca. 1.4-1.8 mm. long ... 3. M. MELISSIFOLIA ee. Young stems puberulous and with a row of hairs decurrent from the stipule-bases; flowers 4.5-5.5 mm. long; calyx ca. 3 mm. long; capsule ca. 3.5-4 mm. long and 4-5 mm. in diam.; seed 3-3.4 mm. long .4. M. CORCHORIFOLIA dd. Inflorescences shortly pedunculate; flowers shortly pedicellate, the pedicel 1.5-4 mm. long; calyx outside and capsules hispidulous and chiefly with gland-tipped hairs; ovary nearly glabrous; styles connate at the base .5. M. MANDUCATA cc. Inflorescences of axillary and terminal, dense, sessile or subsessile clusters forming interrupted or continuous, leafy spikes; flowers 7-8.5 mm. long; staminal tube generally sparsely hirtellous; leaves shortly petiolate, densely pubescent .6. M. VILLOSA
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