A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

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A FLORA OF MANILA
with 5 ligulate staminodes opposite the petals, with 3 anthers between
each two staminodes. Ovary within the tip of the staminal-column, 3-
to 5-celled; styles entire. Capsule woody or coriaceous, often large, cylin-
dric or angled, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds numerous, winged at the apex.
(Greek "wing" and "seed.")
Species about 20, tropical Asia and Malaya, G in the Philippines.
1. P. diversifolium Blume. Bayoc (Tag.).
A tree 4 to 10 m high. Leaves oblong to oblong-obovate, somewhat
oblique, base truncate or cordate, apex very abruptly short-acuminate,
15 to 25 cm long, glabrous on the upper surface, the lower surface pale
and densely stellate-pubescent, the leaves on young plants frequently deeply
palmately lobed. Flowers axillary, sessile, solitary or in pairs, 12 to 14 cm
long, the buds cylindric. Calyx-lobes narrow, coriaceous, recurved, densely
brown-stellate-pubescent outside, inside pubescent and scaly. Petals thin,
white, as long as the calyx-lobes. Capsule large, oblong, woody, about 15
cm long, 5-angled, narrowed at the base. (Fl. Filip. pi. 182.)
In thickets Masambong, San Juan del Monte, etc., fl. May-July; widely
distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya.
7. ME LOCH I A Linnaeus
Herbs, undershrubs, or small trees, often pubescent. Leaves simple.
Flowers small, in axillary heads or clusters, or panicled. Sepals connate
below. Petals spathulate. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, connate below
into a tube. Ovary sessile, 5-celled; styles 5, free or connate at the base.
Capsule small, loculicidally 5-valved.
Species about 50, warmer parts of the world, 2 in the Philippines.
1. M. CORCHORIFOLIA L.
An erect or spreading, branched, suffrutescent herb usually less than
1 m high, with scattered stellate hairs or nearly glabrous. Leaves oblong-
ovate, 2 to 6 cm long, acute or acuminate, base broad, rounded or cordate,
5-nerved. Flowers somewhat crowded in terminal or axillary heads, intermixed
with linear bracteoles. Petals obovate, white, pink, or pale-
purple, about 7 mm long. Capsule depressed-globose, 4 to 5 mm in
diameter, slightly hirsute.
In open, usually damp grass lands, rather common, fl. all the year;
throughout the Philippine, undoubtedly introduced. Most tropical countries.
8. WALTHERIA Linnaeus
Herbs or undershrubs, more or less pubescent. Leaves simple, toothed.
Flowers yellow, in dense axillary clusters. Sepals 5, connate below.
Petals 5, oblong-spatulate. Stamens 5, the filaments united into a tube.
Ovaiy sessile, 1-celled, 2-ovuled. Capsule small, 2-valved, 1-seeded. (In
honor of Walther.)
Species about 15, mostly in tropical America, one a widely distributed
tropical weed.
1. W. AMERICANA L. {W . indica L.).
An erect, more or less branched, pubescent, shrubby or suffrutescent
plant 0.5 to 1.5 m high. Leaves oblong-ovate or oblong, 3.5 to 9 cm long,
rounded or obtuse, base rounded or subcordate, prominently nerved. Flowers
about 5 mm long, in dense, axillary, sessile or shortly peduncled
fascicles. Sepals and bracts green or pale, villous. Corolla somewhat
exserted, yellow.