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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.

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Durian14 Gaya6 Fremontodendron4 Firmiana3 Fuertesimalva3 Eriotheca2 Durian1 Entelea1 Glyphaea1 Goethea1
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Drooping lime Tilia flaccida Durian Durio Adans. 1 item Durian Durio 14 items Egyptian mallow Malva aegyptia Entelea Entelea 1 item Eriotheca Eriotheca 2 items Ethiopian hibiscus Hibiscus aethiopicus Fig-leaved hollyhock Alcea ficifolia Finger poppy mallow Callirhoe digitata Firmiana Firmiana 3 items Floccose hibiscus Hibiscus floccosus Florida linden Tilia floridana Forked hibiscus Hibiscus bifurcatus Fremontodendron Fremontodendron Coville Fremontodendron Fremontodendron 4 items Fuertesimalva Fuertesimalva 3 items Galilean hollyhock Alcea galilaea Gaya Gaya 6 items Giant Cola Cola gigantea Glyphaea Glyphaea 1 item Goethea Goethea 1 item Gossypium areysianum Gossypium areysianum Gossypium australe Gossypium australe Gossypium barbosanum Gossypium barbosanum Gossypium costulatum Gossypium costulatum Gossypium gossypioides Gossypium gossypioides Gossypium harknessii Gossypium harknessii Gossypium incanum Gossypium incanum Gossypium lobatum Gossypium lobatum Gossypium longicalyx Gossypium longicalyx Gossypium microcarpum Gossypium microcarpum Gossypium mustelinum Gossypium mustelinum Gossypium pulchellum Gossypium pulchellum Gossypium stockii Gossypium stockii Gossypium triphyllum Gossypium triphyllum Gossypium vitifolium Gossypium vitifolium Grewia Grewia Grewia barteri Grewia barteri Grewia bicolor Grewia bicolor Grewia biloba Grewia biloba Grewia caffra Grewia caffra Grewia carpinifolia Grewia carpinifolia Grewia cissoides Grewia cissoides Grewia eriocarpa Grewia eriocarpa Grewia flavescens Grewia flavescens Grewia hexamita Grewa hexamita Grewia hirsuta Grewia hirsuta Grewia laevigata Grewia laevigata Grewia lasiodiscus Grewia lasiodiscus Grewia latifolia Grewia latifolia Grewia microcarpa Grewia microcarpa Grewia mollis Grewia mollis Grewia monticola Grewia monticola Grewia occidentalis Grewia occidentalis Grewia oppositifolia Grewia oppositifolia Grewia optiva Grewia optiva Grewia orientalis Grewia orientalis Grewia pachycalyx Grewia pachycalyx Grewia retinervis Grewia retinervis Grewia retusifolia Grewia retusifolia

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)