• Scientific Name: Melochia corchorifolia L.
• Ref: Sp. Pl.:675. 1753
• Synonyms:
  • Geruma subtriloba Blanco
  • Hibiscus donii Walp.
  • H. endlicheri Walp.
  • Lochemia corchorifolia (L.) Arn.
  • L. supina (DC.) Arn. ex Voigt
  • Melochia affinis Wall.
  • M. burmanni Zoll. & Moritzi
  • M. concatenata L.
  • M. erecta Burm.f.
  • M. supina L.
  • M. truncata Willd.
  • Mougeotia corchorifolia (L.) Kunth
  • Polychlaena ramosa G.Don
  • P. simplex G.Don
  • Riedlea concatenata DC.
  • R. corchorifolia (L.) DC.
  • R. radiata Blume
  • R. supina (L.) DC.
  • R. truncata DC.
  • Visenia concatenata Spreng.
  • V. corchorifolia (L.) Spreng.
  • V. supina (L.) Spreng.
• English Common Name: chocolateweed
• Chinese Common Name: 马松子 mǎsōngzǐ
• Japanese Common Name: ノジアオイ [野路葵] nojiaoi
• Family: Malvaceae
• Genus: Melochia
• Distribution: Widespread weed. S of Chang Jiang [Japan; pantropical].
• Photo: 09/24/2016, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Herbs or subshrubs, less than 1 m tall, erect or decumbent. Branches yellow-brown, sparsely stellate puberulent. Stipules linear, 2-4 mm; petiole 5-25 mm; leaf blade ovate, oblong-ovate, or lanceolate, rarely obscurely 3-lobed, 2.5-7 × 1-1.3 cm, thinly papery, abaxially sparsely stellate puberulent, adaxially nearly glabrous, basal veins 5, base rounded or cordate, margin dentate, apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescence a dense cyme or glomerule, terminal or axillary. Epicalyx lobes 4, linear, hairy. Calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, ca. 2.5 mm, abaxially villous and hispid, adaxially glabrous, lobes triangular. Petals 5, white, drying reddish, oblong, ca. 6 mm, narrowed at base. Stamens 5, connate at base, opposite petals. Ovary sessile, densely velutinous; styles 5, filiform. Capsule globose, 5-angular, 5-6 mm in diam., villous. Seeds 1 or 2 per cell, brown-black, ovoid, slightly triangular, 2-3 mm. Fl. summer-autumn. (Flora of China)

09/24/2016, Hangzhou, Zhejiang