The Malvaceae contains 3-4 subfamilies, 245 genera and 4,465 recognized species; the family is most diverse in the tropics around the world. These are herbs, shrubs, trees, and lianas. The leaves are alternate, palmate or compound, with entire or serrated margins. Stems of are often covered in spines or thorns. The flowers are grouped in axillary, terminal, or leaf-opposed inflorescences, sometimes reduced to a single flower; 4-5 petals. The flowers often have nectaries of many tightly packed glandular hairs. The fruits are capsules, schizocarps, follicles, berries, or nuts. The family includes important agricultural crops such as cotton (Gossypium spp.), Cacao (Theobroma cacao), Kola nut (Cola spp.), etc. Recent taxonomic arrangements placed the Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae within the Malvaceae. We retain Tiliaceae as a separate family on this website.

		Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
Unauthorized use of our images is NOT permitted.
Hotlinking or "pinning" of our images to websites is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Copyright © Michael Patrikeev - All Rights Reserved