Waltheria bahamensis

Title

Waltheria bahamensis

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Waltheria bahamensis Britton

Description

Family

Sterculiaceae

Waltheria bahamensis grows as an herbaceous perennial to 75 cm in height that becomes woody with age at the base. The leaves are arranged alternately, oblong, to 4 cm in length with a dentate/serrate margin. The leaves are a dark bronze color and have stellate pubescence on both sides of the leaf blades.

The actinomorphic flowers are sessile in dense clusters in leaf axils. There are 5, hairy fused sepals in the calyx. There are 5 bright yellow, unfused petals in the corolla. There are 5 fused stamens forming a tube. The ovary is superior, hairy, with a single locule and 2 or more seeds. The fruit is a follicle.

Waltheria bahamensis grows in Pine woodlands as well as a variety of human disturbed habitats such as abandoned fields, roadsides, and old houses. It occasionally occurs along the edges of Dry Broadleaf Evergreen - Formation – Shrublands (Scrublands) and in beach strands

Waltheria bahamensis is endemic to the Bahamian Archipelago. It is known to occur on Abaco, Andros, Berry’s, Cat, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, and New Providence islands.

Waltheria bahamensis is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.