Melochia corchorifolia

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:MALVACEAE
Species:Melochia corchorifolia L.
Common Name:Chocolate Weed
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Annual
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:MECO4
Plant Notes:Chocolate Weed is an introduced annual or perennial herbaceous subshrub in the Hibiscus family (Malvaceae). It is believed to be native to eastern and southern Africa through southern Asia to Australia. It is now a pantropical weed occurring in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. It Alabama it occurs throughout the state, but is most common in the southern half. Chocolate Weed occurs in fields, on roadsides, and in disturbed areas. It is an herbaceous annual or perennial from a woody taproot. Stems are erect or prostrate, reddish in color, and stellate pubescent. They range in length from 2-8 feet. The stems are tough and fibrous. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to lanceolate in outline, and doubly serrate. Simple hairs occur along the major veins on the lower surface of the leaf. Flowers are produced in terminal head-like cymes. There are many linear bracts among the flowers. Each flower 5 green united toothed sepals. The flower has 5 pink, purple, or white petals. The petals are yellow in the throat of the flower. The fruit is a 5-locular globose schizocarp. The cooked leaves of Chocolate Weed are eaten as a vegetable in Africa. Fibers obtained from the stems are made into twine and rope. Several parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine. This species was until recently placed in the Chocolate family (Sterculiaceae).--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native, FAC (NWI)
References:**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyMALVACEAE - Mallow family
Genus Melochia
Species Melochia corchorifolia L. - Chocolate Weed

Citation

Citation Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 675. 1753.
Basionym: **
Type: Without data, Dillenius Herb. s.n. (lectotype: OXF). Lectotypified by Goldberg, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 34: 305. 1967.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Corchorus javanicus Corchorus javanicus Burman f., Fl. Indica 123, t. 36(3). 1768. INDONESIA: Java:
Geruma subtriloba Geruma subtriloba Blanco, Fl. Filip. 182. 1837.  
Hibiscus donii Hibiscus donii Walpers, Repert. Bot. Syst. 1: 304. 1842.Polychlaena simplex G. Don 1831. 
Hibiscus endlicheri Hibiscus endlicheri Walpers, Repert. Bot. Syst. 1: 304. 1842.Polychlaena ramosa G. Don 1831. 
Melochia burmannii Melochia burmannii Zollinger & Moritzi, in Moritzi et al., Syst. Verz. 27. 1846, nom. illegit.Corchorus javanicus Burman f. 1768. 
Melochia concatenata Melochia concatenata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 675. 1753. INDIA: Without data, Herb. Hermann 3: 10, no. 247 (lectotype: BM). Lectotypified by Verdcourt, in Dassanayake et al., Revised Handb. Fl. Ceylon 9: 415. 1995.
Melochia cordata Melochia cordata Burman f., Fl. Indica 143. 1768. INDIA
Melochia erecta Melochia erecta Burman f., Fl. Indica 143. 1768. INDONESIA: Java:
Melochia longebracteolata Melochia longebracteolata Arenes, Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, Ser. B, Biol. Veg. 7: 66. 1956. MADAGASCAR
Melochia supina Melochia supina Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 675. 1753. INDIA
Polychlaena ramosa Polychlaena ramosa G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 488. 1831.  
Polychlaena simplex Polychlaena simplex G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 488. 1831.  
Riedlea concatenata Riedlea concatenata (Linnaeus) de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 492. 1824.Melochia concatenata Linnaeus 1753. 
Riedlea corchorifolia Riedlea corchorifolia (Linnaeus) de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 491. 1824.Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus 1753. 
Riedlea radiata Riedlea radiata Blume, Bijdr. 86. 1825.  
Riedlea supina Riedlea supina (Linnaeus) de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 491. 1824.Melochia supina Linnaeus 1753. 
Visenia concatenata Visenia concatenata (Linnaeus) Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 3: 31. 1826.Melochia concatenata Linnaeus 1753. 
Visenia corchorifolia Visenia corchorifolia Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 3: 30. 1826.  
Visenia supina Visenia supina (Linnaeus) Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 3: 31. 1826.Melochia supina Linnaeus 1753. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Baldwin, Bullock, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Franklin, Geneva, Houston, Lawrence, Lee, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Sumter

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AMAL, AUA, JSU, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1965 - 1969

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
JSU118567 Baldwin 17 Oct 1982 Whetstone, R. David
12892		 JSU
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
ALNHS00000367 Baldwin 05 Nov 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
Perd-657		 ALNHS
Melochia corchorifolia L.
USAM000014850 Covington 20 Oct 1969 Kral, Robert
38090		 USAM
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
ALNHS00006748 Houston 11 Sep 2019 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#4884		 ALNHS
Melochia corchorifolia L.
AUA_ACC_72038 Lawrence 25 Oct 2008 England, J. Kevin
1457		 AUA
Melochia Corchorifolia L.
UWAL0002677 Marengo 08 Oct 2010 England, J. Kevin
2621		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000028209 Lawrence 25 Oct 2008 England, J. Kevin
1457		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000049423 Pike 19 Sep 2019 Diamond, Alvin R.
29104		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
USAM000014853 Baldwin 30 Aug 1980 LeLong, Michel G.
11363		 USAM
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0002195 Escambia 31 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13130		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000044481 Escambia 31 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13130		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UNA00010720 Mobile _ Jul 1884 Mohr, Charles
s.n.		 UNA
Melochia corchorifolia L.
AUA_ACC_37969 Lee 28 Sep 1982 Brown, S.M.
21		 AUA
Melochia Corchorifolia L.
AUA_ACC_70576 Escambia 31 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13130		 AUA
Melochia Corchorifolia L.
TROY000009322 Monroe 24 Oct 2006 Diamond, Alvin R.
17162		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0054357 Sumter 31 Oct 2020 Keener, Brian R.
12112		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000044843 Geneva 14 Sep 2017 Byrd, Cameron
1506		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00021698 Franklin 12 Sep 2009 England, J. Kevin
2196		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000009321 Conecuh 22 Sep 2000 Diamond, Alvin R.
12141		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00004972 Houston 08 Sep 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11583		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000041904 Conecuh 03 Nov 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25650		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00000646 Escambia 31 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13130		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
UWAL0004246 Conecuh 22 Aug 2009 Diamond, Alvin R.
20873		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
UWAL0012640 Monroe 25 Sep 2012 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13643		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000028326 Baldwin 13 Oct 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3956		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0011918 Perry 21 Oct 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7659		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
USAM000014851 Mobile 17 Oct 1968 LeLong, Michel G.
4886		 USAM
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0043380 Baldwin 20 Sep 2000 Larsen, Harry S.
482		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
UWAL0032133 Houston 22 Oct 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26985		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0004247 Lawrence 25 Oct 2008 England, J. Kevin
1457		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
AUA_ACC_37999 Mobile 22 Sep 1969 Kral, Robert
37382		 AUA
Melochia Corchorifolia L.
TROY000033771 Marengo 08 Oct 2010 England, J. Kevin
2621		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0017375 Franklin 12 Sep 2009 England, J. Kevin
2196		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000036149 Bullock 02 Aug 2012 Dykes, Bailee
1152		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0043381 Baldwin 16 Sep 2002 Larsen, Harry S.
1132		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
UWAL0049846 Pike 19 Sep 2019 Diamond, Alvin R.
29104		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0016733 Bullock 23 Aug 2013 Dykes, Bailee
1715		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
AMAL00016165 Monroe 24 Oct 2006 Diamond, Alvin R.
17162		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000032038 Houston 22 Oct 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21666		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00017201 Baldwin 13 Oct 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3956		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000051617 Montgomery 20 Sep 2020 Diamond, Alvin R.
29448		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0031824 Conecuh 03 Nov 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25650		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000030670 Mobile 31 Aug 1960 Jones, Samuel B., Jr.
306		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00006749 Monroe 25 Sep 2012 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13643		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000040812 Perry 21 Oct 2012 Keener, Brian R.
7659		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000009319 Baldwin 10 Aug 1927 Wolf, Wolfgang
s.n.		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
AMAL00000563 Marengo 08 Oct 2010 England, J. Kevin
2621		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
TROY000042944 Houston 22 Oct 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
26985		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0004248 Baldwin 13 Oct 2007 Keener, Brian R.
3956		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000009320 Conecuh 28 Aug 2005 Searcy, Darryl
s.n.		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UNA00073482 Mobile 16 Sep 2012 Horne, Howard
1889		 UNA
Melochia corchorifolia L.
AMAL00011142 Mobile 28 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13089		 AMAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
USAM000014854 Mobile 04 Sep 1975 LeLong, Michel G.
8675		 USAM
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UWAL0002300 Mobile 28 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13089		 UWAL
Melochia corchorifolia L.
TROY000034016 Baldwin 28 Oct 2008 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13089		 TROY
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UNA00010710 Mobile 26 Aug 1965 Deramus, Rebecca
D735		 UNA
Melochia corchorifolia L.
USAM000014852 Mobile 18 Sep 1967 LeLong, Michel G.
3771.2		 USAM
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
JSU140208 Mobile 14 Jul 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
SP153		 JSU
Melochia corchorifolia Linnaeus
UNA00056290 Houston 24 Oct 1998 MacDonald, John R.
12363		 UNA
Melochia corchorifolia L.
UNA00010715 Mobile 22 Sep 1969 Kral, Robert
37382		 UNA
Melochia corchorifolia L.
ALNHS00001694 Mobile 14 Jul 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#153		 ALNHS
Melochia corchorifolia L.
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