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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

Dombeya25 Cotton9 Corchorus4 Cienfuegosia3 Coelostegia3 Catostemma2 Cavanillesia2 Clappertonia2 Commersonia2 Desplatsia2 Ceiba1 Chiranthodendron1 Corchoropsis1 Diplodiscus1 Durian1
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Callirhoe Callirhoe Cape Verde Cotton Gossypium capitis-viridis Carolina basswood Tilia caroliniana Catostemma Catostemma 2 items Caucasian lime Tilia euchlora Caucasian linden Tilia dasystyla Cavanillesia Cavanillesia 2 items Ceiba Ceiba 1 item Ceiba acuminata Ceiba acuminata Ceiba aesculifolia Ceiba aesculifolia Ceiba chodatii Ceiba chodatii Ceiba crispiflora Ceiba crispiflora Ceiba erianthos Ceiba erianthos Ceiba insignis Ceiba insignis Ceiba pubiflora Ceiba pubiflora Ceiba samauma Ceiba samauma Ceiba schottii Ceiba schottii Chinese linden Tilia chinensis Chinese parasol tree Firmiana Marsili Ching linden Tilia chingiana Chiranthodendron Chiranthodendron 1 item Cienfuegosia Cienfuegosia 3 items Clappertonia Clappertonia 2 items Clement's mallow Malva clementii Coelostegia Coelostegia 3 items Cola anomala Cola anomala Cola attiensis Cola attiensis Cola chlamydantha Cola chlamydantha Cola congolana Cola congolana Cola cordifolia Cola cordifolia Cola laurifolia Cola laurifolia Cola lepidota Cola lepidota Cola natalensis Cola natalensis Cola verticillata Cola verticillata Columnar hibiscus Hibiscus columnaris Commersonia Commersonia 2 items Common mallow Malva neglecta Corchoropsis Corchoropsis 1 item Corchorus Corchorus 4 items Corchorus argutus Corchorus argutus Corchorus asplenifolius Corchorus asplenifolius Corchorus depressus Corchorus depressus Corchorus fascicularis Corchorus fascicularis Corchorus hirsutus Corchorus hirsutus Corchorus hirtus Corchorus hirtus Corchorus hochstetteri Corchorus hochstetteri Corchorus macropetalus Corchorus macropetalus Corchorus orinocensis Corchorus orinocensis Corchorus schimperi Corchorus schimperi Cotton Gossypium L. 9 items Cretan mallow Malva cretica Cunningham's cotton Gossypium cunninghamii Cut-leaved hollyhock Alcea dissecta Davidson's cotton Gossypium davidsonii Desert cotton Gossypium aridum Desplatsia Desplatsia 2 items Diplodiscus Diplodiscus 1 item Dombeya Dombeya 25 items Drooping lime Tilia flaccida Durian Durio Adans. 1 item

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)