Genus composed of around 150 species distributed through tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, especially in America. Annual pubescent, perennial or shrubby plants. In North Africa it is represented by 3 taxa, which are at least partially woody.<\/p>\n
A further species, adventitious, can be found at least in Egypt:\u00a0S. acuta<\/em> Burm.f. [Malvastrum carpinifolium<\/em> (L.f.) A. Gray, Malvinda carpinifolia<\/em> (L.f.) Medik., S. balbisiana<\/em> DC.] is a perennial plant or small shrub, 30-80 cm in height, with a woody base; trunk erect and branched.\u00a0 It is differentiated by its subglabrous or sparsely puberulent stems. Leaf blade 1-6 \u00d7 0.5-1.5 cm, lanceolate, glabrous or finely pilose, with serrated margin, rounded base, acute apex. Petiole 2-6 mm. Stipules 0.2-1.2 cm, linear-lanceolate to filiform. Flowers axillary, solitary or in racemes of 2-3 flowers; pedicel 2-5 mm. Sepals 5-6.5 mm campanulate, acuminate lobe. Petals 8-9 mm, yellow. Fruits with 6-10 mericarps, 3-4 mm each, tetrahedral, with 2 apical edges, reticulated on the back, with striated sides, glabrous. Seeds 2 mm, glabrous, dark brown. Ruderal plant, that grows in cultivated areas, ditches, borders of crops, margins of irrigation canals, etc. It presents a pantropical distribution and it has spread to other areas such as the Nile delta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-11320","genus","type-genus","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n