Wissadula amplissima

Big yellow velvetleaf is a large, hairy shrub with heart-shaped leaves and topped with a diffuse gathering of clusters of small flowers and fruits. Distinguishing the species from numerous similar ones is mainly a matter of noting features of the schizocarp-type fruits and flower color. Here are its key identification features:

*The shrubs are up to 3 m tall. *Leaves have hairy petioles up to 16 cm long and hairy, heart-shaped, velvety-feeling blades up to 20 cm long, and nearly as wide. Blade margins bear no teeth or indentations, but may be wavy. Lobes at blade bases may overlap one another. The blades are much paler below than above. *The flowering/fruiting part atop the plant consists of a complex system of inflorescences acting as a single unit, sometimes known as a "synflorescence." Within this grouping, individual small flowers are held in clusters of 2 or 3 at tips of long inflorescence branches, the structure thus appearing somewhat diffuse. *Flowers have yellow corollas up to 11 mm in diameter, and calyces up to 4 mm, which grow as the fruit develops. *The schizocarp-type fruits, up to 1 cm in diameter, split into divisions called "mericarps," with each mericarp producing 3 seeds. The mericarps are well distinct from one another and each is topped with a conspicuous point.