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Melhania forbesii

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melhania forbesii
In Botswana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Melhania
Species:
M. forbesii
Binomial name
Melhania forbesii
Synonyms[1]
  • Melhania serrulata R.E.Fr.

Melhania forbesii is a plant in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to southern Africa. It is named for the English naturalist and plant collector John Forbes.[2]

Description

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Melhania forbesii grows as a small shrub about 60 centimetres (24 in) tall, with a branched stem. The leaves are tomentose and measure up to 11 cm (4 in) long. Inflorescences may be one to four-flowered, generally three-flowered.[3] The flowers feature yellow petals.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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Melhania forbesii is native to Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces), Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[1] Its habitat includes sandy areas, open woodland, by rivers and on hillsides.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Melhania forbesii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Melhania forbesii". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b Verdoorn, I. C. (1981). "Revision of Melhania in southern Africa". Bothalia - African Biodiversity and Conservation. 13 (3, 4). Cape Town: AOSIS: 267–268. doi:10.4102/abc.v13i3/4.1315.