| Melochia umbellata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Melochia |
| Species: | M. umbellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Melochia umbellata | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Melochia umbellata is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its specific epithet comes from the Latin umbellatus (umbel-like), referring to the inflorescence. [2]
Melochia umbellata is a shrub or small tree, growing to 2–15 m (6 ft 7 in – 49 ft 3 in) in height. It grows rapidly and is able to colonise disturbed land. [3] It has large, broadly ovate, leaves 90–300 mm long. The flowers are usually pale pink to red. The seeds are winged and wind-dispersed. [3]
The plant is native to a region extending from India eastwards through Southeast Asia to north-western Australia and New Guinea. It occurs in secondary vegetation and forest clearings, on rocky slopes and along the edges of rivers and forests, often in seasonally dry soil. [2]
It has been introduced elsewhere and is cultivated widely to provide shade for young trees in timber and coffee plantations. Melochia is relished by ruminants when offered as a cut-and-carry feed. [4] It has become an invasive weed on the Island of Hawaiʻi where it was extensively planted in the Hilo area during a 1920s reforestation program. [3]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) 
Media related to Melochia umbellata at Wikimedia Commons 
Data related to Melochia umbellata at Wikispecies