chocolateweed

Melochia corchorifolia has ovate leaves; the petioles are generally 5 cm long with linear stipules of 6 mm long. The veins extend to be from 7 cm long to 5 cm long. This plant is an annual or perennial type of herb. It usually develops to be up to 1.3–2.0 m tall; stem with line of stellate hairs. It’s simple, ovate leaves are normally arranged spirally with the margins very intensely serrated. The blade of the leaves range from narrow to broad to the tip, measures up to 7.5 cm × 5.5 cm.

Melochia corchorifolia is common in the Southeastern regions of the United States. It has been observed to grow from North Carolina to all the way south into Mississippi. In addition, it is prevalent in tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Australia. Sunny or dimly shaded humid regions of riversides, lakesides are its familiar natural habitats. This plant also grows typically as weed in cotton, soybean and rice plants.

The proliferation is completed via seed. It is often thought that germination can be better significantly by scarification. With scarified seed, germination is done at temperatures of 35–40 °C. Additionally, Melochia corchorifolia L is observed to be a host of fungal diseases, such as Rhizoctonia solani.

The leaves of Melochia corchorifolia are consumed as a potherb in West Africa and southern Africa. The cooked leaves present a popular, slimy side-dish in Malawi. Such utilization of the leaves are also quite common in Indo-China and India. Additionally, the stems are used for tying bundles and are used in the construction of roofs of houses.