Malvaceae - Definition and Overview

Malvaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes the mallows, cotton plants, okra plants, hibiscus, and hollyhocks. The family traditionally consists of about 1,500 species in 75 genera, but recent genetic work is calling the taxonomy into question, and it is likely that many of the groups will be moved around; modern treatments of the Malvaceae now also include genera previously treated in the Tiliaceae and Bombacaceae, including lindens, kapok, baobabs, and balsa.

External links

• Malvaceae Info (http://www.malvaceae.info/), includes much recent taxonomic discussion
• Technical info about Malvaceae (http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/www/malvacea.htm)
• Malvaceae (http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/malv.htm) – miscellaneous photographs at University of Hawaii Botany site.