Velvety Melochia

  • Title

    Velvety Melochia

  • Authors

    Ethan H. Freid

  • Scientific Name

    Melochia tomentosa L.

  • Description

    Common Names

    Velvety Melochia, Tea Bush, Pyramid Bush

    Family

    Sterculiaceae

    Habit

    Melochia tomentosa grows as a medium size shrub to 3 meters in height. The leaves are arranged alternately, rhomboid to lanceolate, with an acute leaf apex and crenate leaf margin. The leaf surface is covered with a dense tomentose covering of gray/white stellate hairs.

    The actinomorphic flowers are arranged in few-flowered cymes. The calyx has 5 fused green sepals. The corolla has 5 unfused pink petals that overlap along their right edges. There are 5 stamens. The ovary is superior with 5 locules and numerous seeds. The fruit is a loculicidal capsule. All parts of the flower are covered in stellate hairs.

    Habitat

    Melochia tomentosa grows in human-disturbed areas (roadsides/abandoned fields) and along the edges of Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Forests/Woodlands/Shrublands (coppice).

    Distribution in Bahamas/Globally

    Melochia tomentosa occurs on all islands in the Bahamian Archipelago as well as the entire Caribbean region, southern United States, and Central and South America.

    Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage

    Melochia tomentosa is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.