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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

Waltheria5 Thespesia1 Triplochiton1 Triumfetta1 Trochetia1 Urena1 Urocarpidium1 Wercklea1
547 sections

What the section contains

Theobroma calodesmis Theobroma calodesmis Theobroma gileri Theobroma gileri Theobroma glaucum Theobroma glaucum Theobroma microcarpum Theobroma microcarpum Theobroma obovatum Theobroma obovatum Theobroma pentagonum Theobroma pentagonum Theobroma speciosum Theobroma speciosum Theobroma sphaerocarpum Theobroma sphaerocarpum Theobroma subincanum Theobroma subincanum Thespesia Thespesia 1 item Thespesia acutiloba Thespesia acutiloba Thespesia garckeana Thespesia garckeana Thespesia grandiflora Thespesia grandiflora Thurber's cotton Gossypium thurberi Thuringian lavatera Malva thuringiaca Tilia intonsa Tilia intonsa Tiny-flowered hibiscus Hibiscus micranthus Tree Lavatera Malva subovata Tree lavatera Malva olbia Tree mallow Malva arborea Triplochiton Triplochiton 1 item Triumfetta Triumfetta 1 item Triumfetta abutiloides Triumfetta abutiloides Triumfetta acuminata Triumfetta acuminata Triumfetta althaeoides Triumfetta althaeoides Triumfetta angolensis Triumfetta angolensis Triumfetta annua Triumfetta annua Triumfetta bogotensis Triumfetta bogotensis Triumfetta cordifolia Triumfetta cordifolia Triumfetta flavescens Triumfetta flavescens Triumfetta glabra Triumfetta glabra Triumfetta grandiflora Triumfetta grandiflora Triumfetta graveolens Triumfetta graveolens Triumfetta lappula Triumfetta lappula Triumfetta lepidota Triumfetta lepidota Triumfetta nigricans Triumfetta nigricans Triumfetta pentandra Triumfetta pentandra Triumfetta pilosa Triumfetta pilosa Triumfetta procumbens Triumfetta procumbens Triumfetta rhomboidea Triumfetta rhomboidea Triumfetta rotundifolia Triumfetta rotundifolia Triumfetta setulosa Triumfetta setulosa Triumfetta suffruticosa Triumfetta suffruticosa Triumfetta tomentosa Triumfetta tomentosa Triumfetta velutina Triumfetta velutina Triumfetta welwitschii Triumfetta welwitschii Trochetia Trochetia 1 item Tuan lime Tilia tuan Turner's cotton Gossypium turneri Upland cotton Gossypium pilosum Urena Urena 1 item Urena australiensis Urena australiensis Urena rigida Urena rigida Urocarpidium Urocarpidium 1 item Waltheria Waltheria 5 items Warsaw linden Tilia varsaviensis Wax Mallow Malvaviscus arboreus Wercklea Wercklea 1 item West African okra Abelmoschus caillei White sida Sida alba

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)