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Reference · Crops

Malvaceae

Malvaceae is a large family of flowering plants that includes essential agricultural crops such as cotton, kenaf, jute, and okra. The family encompasses a diverse range of forms, from small annual herbs to large trees, but industrial agriculture focuses primarily on those species cultivated for textile fibers, high-quality vegetable oils, and edible products.

Main sections

Abutilon34 Brachychiton11 Abutilon10 Brachychiton7 Adansonia5 Anisodontea4 Bastardiopsis4 Callianthe4 Abelmoschus3 Alyogyne3 Anisodontea3 Argyrodendron3 Berrya3 Byttneria3 Alyogyne2 Apeiba2 Bakeridesia2 Bastardia2 Brownlowia2 Cacao2
547 sections

What the section contains

Abelmoschus Abelmoschus 3 items Abelmoschus angulosus Abelmoschus angulosus Abelmoschus crinitus Abelmoschus crinitus Abelmoschus glutino-textilis Abelmoschus glutino-textilis Abelmoschus mindanensis Abelmoschus mindanensis Abroma Abroma 1 item Abutilon Abutilon Mill. 10 items Abutilon Callianthe Donnell 1 item Abutilon Abutilon 34 items Acropogon Acropogon 1 item Adansonia Adansonia 5 items Adansonia fony Adansonia fony Adansonia gregorii Adansonia gregorii Adansonia madagascariensis Adansonia madagascariensis Alcea apterocarpa Alcea apterocarpa Alcea chrysantha Alcea chrysantha Alcea digitata Alcea digitata Alcea heldreichii Alcea heldreichii Alcea rufescens Alcea rufescens Alcea setosa Alcea setosa Alcea striata Alcea striata Alcea sulphurea Alcea sulphurea Althaea ludwigii Althaea ludwigii Alyogyne Alyogyne Alef. 3 items Alyogyne Alyogyne 2 items American basswood Tilia heterophylla Amur linden Tilia amurensis Angolan jute Corchorus angolensis Anisodontea Anisodontea K.B. Presl 3 items Anisodontea Anisodontea 4 items Annual mallow Malva trimestris Anoda Anoda 1 item Apeiba Apeiba 2 items Argyrodendron Argyrodendron 3 items Armenian marshmallow Althaea armeniaca Armourian cotton Gossypium armourianum Ayenia Ayenia 1 item Azanza Azanza 1 item Bakeridesia Bakeridesia 2 items Bakeridisia chittendeni Bakeridisia chittendeni Balsa tree Ochroma 1 item Bastardia Bastardia 2 items Bastardiopsis Bastardiopsis 4 items Berrya Berrya 3 items Bick's cotton Gossypium bickii Blue hibiscus Hibiscus caerulescens Bombax Bombax L. Bombax anceps Bombax anceps Bombax barrigon Bombax barrigon Bombax buonopozense Bombax buonopozense Bombax ceiba Bombax ceiba Bombax costatum Bombax costatum Brachychiton Brachychiton Schott & Endl. 11 items Brachychiton Brachychiton 7 items Brackenridge's hibiscus Hibiscus brackenridgei Briquetia Briquetia 1 item Brownlowia Brownlowia 2 items Byttneria Byttneria 3 items Cacao Theobroma 2 items Callianthe Callianthe 4 items

Malvaceae

Most plants in the Malvaceae family originate from tropical and subtropical regions. Today, their cultivation range has expanded to encompass various warm climate zones worldwide. These crops typically require long, frost-free growing seasons, often ranging from 120 to 180 days, to reach full maturity and achieve maximum yield potential.

Botanically, the Malvaceae family is defined by alternate leaves and flowers with a double perianth. A distinctive feature is the staminal column, where numerous stamen filaments are fused together. The fruits vary by genus, typically developing as capsules or schizocarps, which contain seeds that are often covered in fibers or fine hairs, as seen in the cotton plant.

Agronomic requirements for these crops involve high solar radiation, warm temperatures, and consistent moisture during the vegetative growth phase. They thrive in deep, well-drained, and fertile soils with a pH ranging from neutral to slightly alkaline. Crop rotation is essential to prevent soil depletion and to manage the accumulation of pathogens in the fields.

The economic utility of Malvaceae is vast, contributing to the textile, food, and chemical industries. Beyond fibers and food, some species are utilized as animal forage. Agricultural management must address common threats, including pests such as the bollworm and spider mites, as well as fungal diseases like Verticillium wilt and anthracnose, which can significantly impact productivity.

  • Cotton (major textile fiber source)
  • Kenaf (industrial fiber crop)
  • Okra (culinary vegetable)
  • Abutilon (fiber-producing plant)