Melhania rotundata is a plant in the family Malvaceae, native to East Africa.

Melhania rotundata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Melhania
Species:
M. rotundata
Binomial name
Melhania rotundata
Synonyms[1]
  • Melhania cyclophylla Hochst. ex Mast.
  • Melhania taylorii Baker f.

Description

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Melhania rotundata grows as a herb or subshrub up to 70 centimetres (28 in) tall, rarely to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). The round to ovate leaves are tomentose, coloured greyish-green. They measure up to 6.2 cm (2 in) long. Inflorescences may have a solitary flower or be two or three-flowered with a stalk up to 5.5 cm (2 in) long. The flowers have bright yellow petals.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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Melhania rotundata is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.[1] Its habitat is in Acacia-Commiphora bushland or woodland at altitudes of 100–1,150 m (300–3,800 ft).[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Melhania rotundata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b Cheek, Martin; Dorr, Laurence J. (2007). Beentje, Henk (ed.). Sterculiaceae – Flora of Tropical East Africa. Vol. 237. East African governments by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 9781842461853 – via Plants of the World Online.