Melhania velutina is a plant in the family Malvaceae, native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
| Melhania velutina | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Melhania |
| Species: | M. velutina
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| Binomial name | |
| Melhania velutina | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
Melhania velutina grows as a herb or subshrub up to 1 metre (3 ft) tall, rarely to 2.5 m (8 ft). The ovate leaves are tomentose above and measure up to 13 cm (5 in) long. Inflorescences have a solitary flower or two to four-flowered cymes, on a stalk up to 8.5 cm (3 in) long. The flowers have yellow petals. The fruits are ovoid and measure up to 1 cm (0.4 in) long.[2]
Distribution and habitat edit
Melhania velutina is native to an area from Angola northeast to Sudan and east to Somalia. It is also native to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.[1] Its habitat is in woodland, grassland, riverside forests and agricultural land, typically at elevations of 700–1,950 m (2,300–6,400 ft).[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Melhania velutina". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ 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.
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