Melochia pyramidata Linnaeus (1753: 674)

Gonçalez, Victor Martins & Esteves, Gerleni Lopes, 2015, Synopsis of Melochia L. (Byttnerioideae, Malvaceae) in southeastern Brazil, Phytotaxa 226 (3), pp. 217-232 : 225-226

Melochia pyramidata Linnaeus (1753: 674) . Type:— BRAZIL, s.l., s.d. (LINN), [cited by Goldberg, 1967]).

Figs. 3C–D, L , 4L , 5A–B, D .

Distribution and habitat: —Widely distributed throughout the Americas, from the southern United States (Texas) and Mexico, spreading to the Antilles and South America ( Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina). This species has been introduced into several tropical and subtropical regions. Occuring throughout Brazil, except in North Region, growing in disturbed areas, clearings, forest edges, banks of rivers, pastures and cultivated areas in Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Rain Forest. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Alexandrita , 27 March 1985, M. Brandão 11098 ( PAMG) ; Belo Horizonte , 06 July 1999, J. A. Lombardi 3068 ( BHCB) ; Buenópolis , 21 May 1990, M. M. Arbo et al. 4531 ( SPF) ; 21 September 2005, G. Hatschbach et al. 79404 ( MBM) ; Buritizeiro , 14 November 2011, V. M. Gonçalez et al. 111 ( SP) ; Caçarema , 17 April 1996, G. Hatschbach et al. 64941 ( MBM) ; Cachoeira Dourada, s.d., J. P. Laca-Buendia s.n. ( PAMG 18563 ) ; Capinópolis , 17 March 1974, M. L. Gavilanes s.n. ( PAMG 18529 ) ; Conselheiro Mata , 09 July 2011, V. M. Gonçalez 82 ( SP) ; 09 July 2011, V. M. Gonçalez 83 ( SP) ; 09 July 2011, V. M. Gonçalez 84 ( SP) ; Curinhatã , 02 April 1993, M. Brandão 22431 ( PAMG) ; Curvelo , 06 August 1986, M. Brandão 11869 ( PAMG) ; Fazenda Experimental Gorutuba , 20 September 1990, Heloísa 1626 ( PAMG) ; Francisco Sá , 06 June 2010, A. C. Cervi et al. 9669 ( MBM) ; Ibiaí , 17 September 2005, G. Hatschbach & E. Barbosa 79289 ( MBM) ; Itacarambi , 19 June 2004, G. Hatschbach et al. 78002 ( MBM) ; Jaíba , 22 September 2006, F. Marino et al. 196 ( BHCB) ; Janaúba , 17 February 1987, M. Brandão 12125 ( PAMG) ; 21 October 1990, M. Brandão 17985 ( PAMG) ; Januária , 12 May 1912, A. Lutz 14 ( R) ; 12 May 1912, A. Lutz 18 ( R) ; 25 May 1997, J. A. Lombardi & A. Salino 1800 ( BHCB) ; Montes Claros , 06 October 1976, M. L. Gavilanes 109 ( PAMG) ; 14 December 1983, M. Brandão 10607 ( PAMG) ; 23 August 1984, M. Brandão 13091 ( PAMG) ; Monte Azul, s.d., M. Brandão 9379 ( PAMG) ; Pirapora , 25 April 1942, M. Barreto 11384 ( MBM, BHCB) ; Planuar , 01 April 1993, M. Brandão 22076 ( PAMG) ; Porteirinha , 30 June 2003, G. Hatschbach et al. 75965 ( MBM) ; São João da Ponte , 16 October 1990, Laca-Buendia & Brandão 17667 ( PAMG) . Rio de Janeiro: Campos, s.d., Sampaio 3350 ( R) ; Rio de Janeiro, July 1920, Dionisio s.n. ( RB 14750 ) ; 17 August 1920, J. G. Kuhlmann s.n. ( RB 16253 ) ; 04 June 1921, J. G. Kuhlmann s.n. ( RB 4151 ) ; 22 April 1943, F. Guerra s.n. ( RB 47917 ) ; 22 June 1947, O. Machado s.n. ( RB 75871 ) ; Três Irmãos , May 1919, Almeida s.n. ( R 78401 ) . São Paulo: Cajuru , 22 April 1990, A. Sciamarelli & J. V. C. Nunes 651 ( UEC) ; Iporanga , 07 November 1958, G. Hatschbach 5190 ( MBM) ; 15 June 1994, K. D. Barreto et al. 2590 ( ESA) ; Paulo de Faria , 23 August 1995, M. D. N. Grecco 99 ( SP, UEC, SPF) ; Piracicaba, 18 Novembro 1924, J. F. de Toledo s.n. ( SP 11329 ) ; 15 September 1938, J. E. Rombouts s.n. ( SP 41072 ) ; 03 February 1949, J. I. de Lima s.n. ( RB 69996 ) ; 12 April 1976, H. F. Leitão Filho 1878 ( UEC, MBM) ; 08 February 1994, K. D. Barreto et al. 1980 ( ESA) ; Promissão , 20 June 1939, G. Hashimoto 125 ( SP) ; Registro , 02 June 1963, C. Moura s.n. ( IAC, RB, SP 123390 ) ; Serra da Bocaina , 01 May 1912, A. Lutz & B. Lutz 257 ( R) ; December 1930, A. Lutz & B. Lutz s.n. ( R 121415 ) ; s.l., s.d. Sellow s.n. ( R 78134 ) .

Melochia pyramidata is distinguished by the glabrate to glabrous adaxial surface of the leaf-blades, immature fruit with purplish markings, and calyx with glandular trichomes. The leaf-blades exhibit a large amount of variation in shape, ranging from narrowly elliptic to broadly ovate.

Goldberg (1967) considered two varieties based on adaxial surface of the leaf blades: tomentose or subglabrous, and stellate or simple. However, the recognition of those varieties is rejected in the present work, as these morphological characters were absent in the specimens observed.

Melochia pyramidata is considered a weed mainly of pastures, orchards, roadsides and wastelands. Many populations of M. pyramidata were observed living sympatrically with M. arenosa on the banks of the Rio São Francisco, Buritizeiro, Minas Gerais.

Conservation status: —Least Concern ( IUCN 2011). Widely distributed, it has a significant number of recent collections, and is also found in conservation areas.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. M. regnellii, branch with white flowers. B. Melochia villosa var. tomentosa, branch with lilac petals. C–D. M. pyramidata: C. branch with flowers and fruit, D. flowers having purple petals with yellow basal spots. E–G. M. gardneri: E–F. parts of the branches showing the axillary inflorescences, G. shrubby habit. H. M. pilosa, terminal inflorescence with yellow flowers. I. M. arenosa, branch with flowers having lilac petals with yellow basal spots. J. M. gardneri, branch with globose capsule with dehiscence partially loculicidal and septicidal. K. M. arenosa, part of branch with globose capsules. L. M. pyramidata, part of branch with pyramidal capsules.

FIGURE 4. Scanning Electron Microscopy of seeds in Melochia. A–I. Reticulate seeds: A. M. arenosa; B. M. simplex; C. M. graminifolia; D. M. regnellii; E. M. villosa var. villosa; F. Melochia villosa var. tomentosa; G–H. M. pilosa, H. showing the deciduous hull; I. M. gardneri J–L. Striate seeds: J. M. betonicifolia; K. M. morongii; L. M. pyramidata.

FIGURE 5. Scanning Electron Microscopy of trichomes in Melochia. A–B. M. pyramidata. biradiate trichomes on the outer calyx surface; C. M.simplex. peduncle, multiradiate trichomes; D. M. pyramidata. capitate-glandular trichomes on the outer calyx surface;E. M.regnellii. simple trichomes on the adaxial surface of leaf-blade; F. M. villosa var. villosa. stellate trichomes on the adaxial surface of leaf-blade.