330 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- 
drie or angled, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds numerous, winged at the apex. 
(Greek “wing” and “‘seed.’’) 
Species about 20, tropical Asia and Malaya, 6 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 ecm 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 
em long, 5-angled, narrowed at the base. (FI. Filip. pl. 182.) 
In thickets Masambong, San Juan del Monte, etc., fl. May-July; widely 
distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya. 
7. MELOCHIA 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, in- 
termixed 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. 
Ovary 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 em long, 
rounded or obtuse, base rounded or subcordate, prominently nerved. Flow- 
ers about 5 mm long, in dense, axillary, sessile or shortly peduncled 
fascicles. Sepals and bracts green or pale, villous. Corolla somewhat 
exserted, yellow. 
