Malvaceae
Malvaceae Juss. the modern circumscription of Malvaceae is considerably broader than the traditional concept, incorporating the former families Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae into a single monophyletic family comprising nine subfamilies. The family includes approximately 240–250 genera and 4,300–4,500 species, distributed worldwide but particularly diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. Members are distinguished by stellate hairs, mucilage-producing tissues, alternate stipulate leaves, numerous stamens united into a staminal column, and capsular or schizocarpic fruits.
Key characteristics
- Herbs, shrubs, or trees with mucilage
- Stellate hairs commonly present
- Leaves alternate, stipulate, palmately veined
- Epicalyx frequently present
- Flowers actinomorphic and bisexual
- Stamens numerous, united into a staminal column
- Superior ovary
- Fruit a capsule, schizocarp, berry, or drupe
Distribution
Malvaceae has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, occurring throughout tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Species inhabit forests, savannas, deserts, grasslands, wetlands, coastal areas, and cultivated landscapes. The greatest diversity occurs in tropical America, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In Pakistan, Malvaceae is widely distributed throughout the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Potohar Plateau, Salt Range, Plains, riverine forests, and the deserts of Cholistan, Thal, and Thar. Species occur in cultivated fields, roadsides, wastelands, scrublands, forests, wetlands, and urban landscapes. Important genera include Hibiscus, Gossypium, Abutilon, Sida, Malva, Alcea, Grewia, and Tilia (cultivated).