Wissadula amplissima, the big yellow velvetleaf, is a species of shrub native to the American tropics, including Mexico. It may also occur in Cape Verde and Tropical Africa, depending on whether the African plants are a variety of this species or Wissadula rostrata. It belongs to the family Malvaceae.
Description
Big yellow velvetleaf is a large, hairy shrub with heart-shaped leaves and topped with a diffuse gathering of clusters of small flowers and fruits. Distinguishing the species from numerous similar ones is mainly a matter of noting features of the schizocarp-type fruits and flower color. Here are its key identification features:
The shrubs are up to 3 m (10 ft) tall.
Leaves have hairy petioles up to
The flowering/fruiting part atop the plant consists of a complex system of inflorescences acting as a single unit, sometimes known as a "synflorescence." Within this grouping, individual small flowers are held in clusters of 2 or 3 at tips of long inflorescence branches, the structure thus appearing somewhat diffuse.
Flowers have yellow corollas up to 11 mm (7⁄16 in) in diameter, and calyces up to 4 mm (3⁄16 in), which grow as the fruit develops.
The schizocarp-type fruits, up to 1 cm (3⁄8 in) in diameter, split into divisions called "mericarps," with each mericarp producing 3 seeds. The mericarps are well distinct from one another and each is topped with a conspicuous point.
Distribution
In the Americas, big yellow velvetleaf occurs throughout most of Mexico except for the drier areas, the Caribbean and south through Central America into Peru and most of Brazil in South America. Plants of the World Online places the species in tropical Africa, on the basis that the taxon known as Wissadula rostrata should be treated as a subspecies of Wissadula amplissima. A 2010 paper suggests that the African plants merit recognition as a distinct species.
Habitat
In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, big yellow velvetleaf occurs in...
