Malachra capitata
(L.) L.
Malvaceae
This plant is closely related to Malachra alceifolia, and is included in that species by some botanists.
Malachra mexicana Schrad.
Malachra palmata Moench
Malachra poeppigii Gürke
Malachra ruderalis Gürke
Malachra velutina Triana & Planch.
Sida capitata L.
Urena capitata (L.) M.Gómez
Common Name:
Flower, leaf and developing fruit
Photograph by: Lalithamba
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Flower, leaf and developing fruit
Photograph by: Lalithamba
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
General Information
Malachra capitata is a coarse herb, growing up to 1.5 metres tall[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The plant is usually erect, covered throughout with a rather dense tomentum of fine close stellate hairs, the stems often bearing a few long spreading hairs[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
M. Capitata is planted as fibre plant in India, formerly also in Cuba. Roots and leaves are in some regions a medicine[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
Northern S. America - Peru and Ecuador, through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies.
Habitat
Mostly in weedy fields or waste ground at elevations below 400 metres in Guatemala[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 1.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of lowland tropical areas, usually found below 500 metres but with occasional plants found at elevations above 1,000 metres.
Introduced as weed in all tropical regions[
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
An excellent fibre is obtained from the stems[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is similar to jute (Corchorus spp.)[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
