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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

Lime tree7 Mallow7 Malvastrum5 Melhania5 Microcos5 Luehea4 Neesia4 Marsh mallow3 Leptonychia2 Malvella2 Modiolastrum2 Mahernia1 Malachra1 Malope1 Matisia1 Melochia1 Modiolastrum1 Nesogordonia1
547 sections

What the section contains

Leptonychia Leptonychia 2 items Lily-flowered hibiscus Hibiscus liliiflorus Lime tree Tilia L. 7 items Little-ribbed linden Tilia paucicostata Long-flowered marshmallow Althaea longiflora Looking-glass mangrove Heritiera littoralis Loose cotton Gossypium laxum Luehea Luehea 4 items Mahernia Mahernia 1 item Malachra Malachra 1 item Malachra alceifolia Malachra alceifolia Malachra capitata Malachra capitata Malachra heptaphylla Malachra heptaphylla Malachra radiata Malachra radiata Malachra urens Malachra urens Malacothamnus Malacothamnus Mallow Malva L. 7 items Malope Malope 1 item Malope Malope malacoides Malva durieui Malva durieui Malva multiflora Malva multiflora Malva oxyloba Malva oxyloba Malva stipulacea Malva stipulacea Malva tournefortiana Malva tournefortiana Malva unguiculata Malva unguiculata Malva weinmanniana Malva weinmanniana Malvastrum Malvastrum 5 items Malvaviscus Malvaviscus Malvaviscus brevipes Malvaviscus brevipes Malvaviscus sepium Malvaviscus sepium Malvella Malvella 2 items Manchurian linden Tilia mandshurica Marsh mallow Althaea 3 items Matisia Matisia 1 item Maximowicz linden Tilia maximowicziana Mechow's Hibiscus Hibiscus mechowii Melhania Melhania 5 items Melochia Melochia 1 item Melochia betsiliensis Melochia betsiliensis Melochia lupulina Melochia lupulina Melochia manducata Melochia manducata Melochia melissifolia Melochia melissifolia Melochia mollis Melochia mollis Melochia nodiflora Melochia nodiflora Melochia parviflora Melochia parviflora Melochia pyramidata Melochia pyramidata Melochia villosa Melochia villosa Microcos Microcos 5 items Miquel's Linden Tilia miqueliana Modiolastrum Modiolastrum 2 items Modiolastrum Modiola 1 item Moltke lime Tilia moltkei Mountain linden Tilia monticola Napaea Napaea Neesia Neesia 4 items Neglected linden Tilia neglecta Nelson's cotton Gossypium nelsonii Nesogordonia Nesogordonia 1 item Nicaea mallow Malva nicaeensis Noble linden Tilia nobilis

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)