Malachra capitata (L.) L.
Description
Herbs or subshrubs to 1.5 m tall, the stems densely stellate-pubescent, occasionally also with longer (to 1.5 mm) simple hairs, especially on young growth. Leaf blades mostly 4-10 cm long, ovate, lyrate, to 3-5-lobed, the lobes obovate, constricted basally, the sinuses broadly rounded, truncate to subcordate, crenate-serrate, acute or obtuse, sparsely to moderately stellate-pubescent; petioles mostly half the length of the blades or less; stipules 9—15 mm long. Inflorescence a capitulum terminating an axillary peduncle that usually exceeds the subtending petiole, with two or more specialized floral bracts subtending the capitulum; bracts deeply cordate, sessile, entire, rounded, acute, with prominent white markings at base, often hispid; involucel absent; calyx 6—8 mm long, hispid; petals 7-10 mm long, yellow. Mericarps ca. 3 mm long, brownish, smooth with reticulate veins, glabrous. Chromosome number: 2n = 56.A
Distribution
México (país) Nativo y no endémicoA
Habitat & Ecology
occurs in disturbed vegetation, often in wet sites, from Texas and Louisiana to northern South America (cf. Fig. 68); it also occurs as an adventive in the Old World tropics (e.g., Borssum Waalkes 1966). This species flowers throughout the year.A
Tipo de vegetación
No especificadoA
Categoría IUCN
No incluidaB
Categoría NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010
No incluidaC