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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

Pavonia21 Pterospermum10 Scaphium6 Pachira5 Pterygota5 Sida4 Pseudabutilon3 Quararibea3 Reevesia3 Schoutenia3 Scleronema3 Pachira2 Peltaea2 Plagianthus2 Pseudobombax2 Pterocymbium2 Robinsonella2 Octolobus1 Pentace1 Pentapetes1
547 sections

What the section contains

Oblong-leaved mallow Malva oblongifolia Octolobus Octolobus 1 item Oliver's Lime Tilia oliveri Orange sida Sida aurantiaca Orbicular linden Tilia orbicularis Pachira Pachira Aubl. 2 items Pachira Pachira 5 items Pale hollyhock Alcea pallida Pavonia Pavonia 21 item Pavonia procumbens Pavona procumbens Peltaea Peltaea 2 items Pentace Pentace 1 item Pentace adenophora Pentace adenophora Pentace curtisii Pentace curtisii Pentace hirtula Pentace hirtula Pentace laxiflora Pentace laxiflora Pentace polyantha Pentace polyantha Pentace sumatrana Pentace sumatrana Pentace triptera Pentace triptera Pentapetes Pentapetes 1 item Phalsa Grewia asiatica Phymosia Phymosia 1 item Plagianthus Plagianthus 2 items Plane-leaved hibiscus Hibiscus platanifolius Poplar-leaved cotton Gossypium populifolium Poppy mallow Callirhoe alcaeoides Portia tree Thespesia populneoides Portuguese mallow Malva lusitanica Pseudabutilon Pseudabutilon 3 items Pseudobombax Pseudobombax 2 items Pterocymbium Pterocymbium 2 items Pterospermum Pterospermum 10 items Pterygota Pterygota 5 items Purple mallow Malva phoenicea Quararibea Quararibea 3 items Radyera Radyera 1 item Raimond's cotton Gossypium raimondii Red lime Tilia rubra Reevesia Reevesia 3 items Rhodognaphalon Rhodognaphalon 1 item Rhynchosida Rhynchosida 1 item Robinson's cotton Gossypium robinsonii Robinsonella Robinsonella 2 items Rock Corchorus Corchorus saxatilis Rough mallow Althaea hirsuta Ruizia Ruizia 1 item Scaly hibiscus Hibiscus squamosus Scaphium Scaphium 6 items Scaphopetalum Scaphopetalum Scaphopetalum blackii Scaphopetalum blackii Schoutenia Schoutenia 3 items Scleronema Scleronema 3 items Sea hibiscus Hibiscus tiliaceus Senra Senra 1 item Sida Sida 4 items Sida abutilifolia Sida abutilifolia Sida acrantha Sida acrantha Sida acuminata Sida acuminata Sida aggregata Sida aggregata Sida cambuiensis Sida cambuiensis

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)