Melochia parvifolia

Native to Cuba, the Netherlands Antilles and tropical South America, this shrub inhabits roadsides, scrub, pastures and other disturbed areas. In Colombia it occurs in the Caribbean lowlands, Orinoquia and Magdalena Valley, from near sea level to about 1,700 feet. Its small, elliptic to spoon-shaped leaves have finely toothed edges. Clusters of white flowers generally grow opposite the leaves and have hairy calyces. Flowers occur in both long-styled and short-styled forms. The hairy fruits are pyramidal capsules with five sides. Near Caracas, Venezuela, it flowers for most of the year. Photographed in the department of Atlantico, Colombia.