Waltheria indica
Inflorescence of Waltheria indica
Waltheria indica is a species of the mallow family ( Malvaceae ).
Description
Waltheria indica is an upright or low -lying shrub that is highly branched and stature heights up to one meter reached. The young branches are densely puberulous. The petioles are 0.5 to 1 inches long. The leaf blade is 2.5 to 4.5 inches long, 1.5 to 3 cm wide, ovate to elliptic- ovate and long on the top and underside densely puberulous. The leaf base is rounded to slightly cordate, leaf margin is slightly cut and the leaf apex obtuse. The inflorescence is zymös, little head shaped and axillary. The inflorescence axis is almost absent or reach lengths of up to 1.5 centimeters. The lobes of the outer calyx are about 4 millimeters in size and almost lanceolate. The cup is 3 to 4 millimeters long, tubular and five-lobed. The flaps are triangular and a lot longer than the tube. The petals are spatulate, yellowish, with trimmed top and slightly longer than the sepals. The dust tube surrounding the ovary. The ovary is hairy sitting and fluffy. The stylus is inserted at an angle. The scar is frayed. The capsule is about 3 millimeters in size, verkehrteiförmig, hairy, and one seed enclosed by a permanent calyx. The seeds are very small and verkehrteiförmig.
The flowering time is in the summer and fall.
Occurrence
The species is pantropical spread. In China, the species is found in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Taiwan.
System
Waltheria indica was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus. Synonyms are Waltheria americana var indica ( Linnaeus) K. Schumann, Waltheria indica var americana ( Linnaeus) R. Brown ex Hosaka and Waltheria makinoi Hayata.
Use
Waltheria indica is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant.