Urena lobata
L., Sp. Pl.
692.1753, s.l; Masters in Fl. Brit. India 1: 329.1874.
Undershurbs, annual or perennial, erect, 0.5 -
2 m high; stems, petioles and pedicels
densely minute stellate-hairy intermixed simple hairs, ultimately glabrescent. Leaves
extremely variable in size and shape, 1 -
12 x 0.5 -
12.5 cm, usually ovate to orbicular,
unlobed to shallowly lobed or deeply irregularly incised towards base, lobes 3 -
5 or more,
dilated upwards with rounded sinuses, shallowly cordate, rounded, obtuse to acute at
base, obtuse to acute or rounded at apex, serrate to crenate or entire, densely stellate-
hairy on both surfaces, ultimately glabrescent; 3 -
9-nerved at base, midrib and sometimes
2 adjacent nerves with linear nectaries beneath; petioles 0.5 -
12 cm long; stipules 2 -
4
mm long, linear to lanceolate, acute. Flowers axillary, solitary or 2 -
3 in clusters; pedicels
1 -
5 mm long. Epicalyx segments closely enveloping calyx and shortly adnate to it, 3 -
10 x 1 - 3 mm, linear to lanceolate, acute, minute stellate-hairy outside, often fimbriate
sericeous by appressed, simple and stellate hairs towards apex inside. Calyx tubular to
campanulate, lobes 4 - 6 x 1.5 - 2 mm, ovate to deltoid, acute to acuminate, nerves
somewhat prominent with nectaries at base, hairs similar to epicalyx. Corolla pink with
a purple centre, 2 -
3 cm across; petals 1 -
1.5 x 0.5 cm, obovate, rounded at apex, ciliate
or glabrous. Schizocarps 5 -
8 mm across, globose, glochidiate, spines with 4 -
5 retrorse,
short, sharp hooks at the top; mericarps 4 -
5 mm, radially ca 4 mm, tangentially ca 3
mm, dorsally and laterally stellate-hairy and reticulate veined. Seeds 2 -
3 mm across,
reniform, minutely hairy or glabrous, brown.
KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES
| 1a. Leaves angled or shallowly lobed; epicalyx cupular in fruit, appressed to mericarps; segments narrowly triangular | 1. lobata |
| b. Leaves palmatilobed or palmatifid; epicalyx spreading or reflexed in fruit, segments linear to lanceolate | 2. sinuata |
