Waltheria
Waltheria is a genus of flowering plants of the mallow family ( Malvaceae ). The main distribution area of about 50 species located in tropical America.
Description
Waltheria species are perennial herbaceous plants or subshrubs. They are weak stellate hairs pubescent and often lignified. The stipules are lanceolate, the leaf blade is simple and shows a finely serrated margin. The inflorescence is terminal or axillary, zymös and often the flowers are crowded together. The flowers are hermaphroditic and small. The calyx is five-lobed. The five petals are spatulate and binding. The five stamens are fused at the base and opposite the petals constantly. The anthers are zweithekig, the counters are parallel. The ovary is sitting and single chamber. There are two ovules available. The pens are clavate or frayed at the top. The capsule is zweiklapprig. Each cap contains a seed is present. The seeds have a lot of endosperm. The cotyledons are flat.
Occurrence
The genus is mainly distributed in the American tropics. One species occurs in China.
System
Waltheria was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum. We distinguish about 50 species. The Plant List are the following species of the genus:
- Waltheria acuminata Rose
- Waltheria albicans Turcz.
- Waltheria berteroi ( Spreng. ) J.G.Saunders
- Waltheria carmen Sarae J.G.Saunders
- Waltheria carpinifolia aint- Hilaire
- Waltheria collina K.Schum.
- Waltheria communis A.St. - Hil.
- Waltheria glomerata C.Presl
- Waltheria indica L.
- Waltheria involucrata Benth.
- Waltheria lanceolata R.Br. ex Mast.
- Waltheria macrophylla Hassl.
- Waltheria operculata Rose
- Waltheria ovata Cav.
- Waltheria J. G. procumbens Saunders & Soria
- Waltheria viscosissima A.St. - Hil.