Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 592 > Sterculiaceae > Melochia

1. Melochia corchorifolia L.wfo-0000452175

Sp. Pl.: 675. 1753; Mast. in Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 374. 1874; Gagnep. in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 1: 509. 1911; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 284. 1922; Craib in Fl. Siam. Enum. 1: 178. 1925; Kou-mei, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 49(2): 167, fig. 47. 1984. Fig. 86.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Undershrub, up to 1.5 m high; young parts sparsely hairy, then glabrescent. Stipules linear-lanceolate, caducous. Leaves ovate, triangular or linear-oblong, 3–10 x 1–4 cm, apex acute, base obtuse to truncate, chartaceous, sparsely hairy then glabrescent on both surfaces, serrate to serrulate; 3 nerved at base. Petioles 0.5–2 cm long, hairy. Inflorescences densely clustered, terminal or axillary, ca 2 x 2 cm; pedicel ca 3 mm long; peduncle sessile or subsessile. Buds ovoid, surrounded by 3 lanceolate bracts. Flowers pinkish. Sepals united at base, cup-shaped, with 5 caudate lobes, hairy externally. Petals free, oblanceolate, 3–5 x 1 mm, opposite calyx segments. Stamens 5, free, inserted at the base of petals. Ovary ovoid, with 5 longitudinal lobes, hairy; 5 locular, each with one ovule; style 5, free; stigma narrow, pointed. Fruit globose, ca 5 x 5 mm, subtended by 3 lanceolate bracts, dehiscing along ridges. Seed one in each locule.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Uttaradit; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; CENTRAL: Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chachoengsao; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Satun.

Distribution : India (type), Burma, S China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Polynesia.

Ecology : In old clearings or dry deciduous forests, 10–300 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: September–December.

Vernacular : Khang pak put (ขางปากปุด)(Northern); sa-aeng bai mon (สะแองใบมน), seng lek (เส้งเล็ก)(Central).

Uses: Bark for making string.