-Plants (Kingdom Plantae)

-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)

-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)

-Dicots (Class Magnoliopsida)

-Mallows, Rock-roses, and Allies (Order Malvales)

-Mallow and Hibiscus Family (Family Malvaceae)

-Subfamily Byttnerioideae

-Genus Melochia

-Hornbeam Leaved Melochia (Melochia nodiflora)

Hornbeam-leaved melochia (Melochia nodiflora) is a low, spreading perennial herb or subshrub in the mallow family (Malvaceae), native to the tropical Americas. Small, pale pink to lavender flowers appear in tight clusters (nodal heads) along the stems rather than at the tips, giving rise to the species name nodiflora (“node-flowered”). Each flower has five delicate petals and a prominent central column of stamens typical of mallows.