Melhania velutina

Melhania velutina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Melhania
Species:	M. velutina
Binomial name
Melhania velutina Forssk.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Dombeya velutina (Forssk.) Willd. Melhania ferruginea A.Rich. Melhania malacochlamys K.Schum. Pentapetes velutina (Forssk.) Vahl

Melhania velutina is a plant in the family Malvaceae, native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Description

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

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

1. "Melhania velutina". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
2. 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.