Malvaceae

1. Malvaceae Mallow Family

2. 250 genera 4230 species

3. Consists of hermaphroditic, rarely monoecious or polygamous trees, shrubs or herbs Often with either stellate trichomes or peltate scales Eudicot

4. L eaves Simple or palmately coumpound Sometime lobed to divided Palmately or pinnately veined Usually spiral and stipulate Stipules often caducous Caducous - falling early before associated organs are mature

5. Inflorescence Solitary Paired flower Cymelike Complex (sometimes)

6. Flower Bisexual (rarely Unisexual) most Actinomorphic Epicalyx typically present Hypogynous (situated below the ovary)

7. Perianth Biseriate (arranged in two rows) Petals alternating with sepals

8. Calyx Aposepalous (distinct sepals) Basally synsepalous (flowers with fused sepals) 5 [less often 3 or 4] V alvate sepals (meeting without overlapping)

9. Corolla Apopetalous (distinct, separate petals) Sometmes adnate to the base of an androecium tube Rarely absent 5 [3, 4] Clawed, convolute, valvate or imbricate petals

10. Stamen 5 ∞ Filaments usually connate Either as tube surrounding the ovary or bundles of stamens or a tube bearing bundles

11. Anthers & Pollen Anther: longitudinal or poricidal (through pores) dehiscence Pollen: spinulose or smooth

12. Gynoecium Syncarpous ( carpels connate into single unit) Superior ovary 2 ∞ carpels 2 ∞ [ 1 ] locules

13. Style, Placentation & Nectaries Style: Unlobed , lobed or branched at apex Placentation : axile Nectaries : consists of glandular trichomes typically present at the adaxial base of the calyx

14. Fruit & Seeds Fruits: Loculicidal Septicidal Indehiscent capsule Schizocarp of mericarps Rarely berry or samara Seeds: Exalbuminous (no endosperm) or Endorspermous (oily and starchy endosperm)

15. Economic Importance Fiber Plants: Gossypium spp . (cotton, world’s most important plant) Ceiba pentandra ( kapok) Corchorus spp . (jute, source of burlap) Food and Flavoring Plants Theobroma cacao (cacao, source of chocolate) Cola nitida (cola) Abelmoschus ( okra ) Durio zibethinus ( Durian )

16. Economic Importance Wood Ochroma pyramidale (balsa) Pachira aquatica ( money tree ) Ornamental Brachychiton Dombeya Fremontodendron H ibiscus (mallows) Tilia (linden tree)

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18. PICTURES  (DURIAN)