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Exell, A.W. (1961) Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2)
Herbs, shrubs or trees, usually with stellate hairs. Stipules present. Leaves alternate, often palmately divided. Flowers bisexual (rarely unisexual [in ours?]), actinomorphic. Epicalyx usually present, sometimes 0. Calyx (3-)5-lobed, truncate or occasionally 5- to 10-toothed. Petals 5, free. Stamens numerous, united in a tube surrounding the style. Anthers 1-thecous. Ovary superior, (1-)2-many-locular. Style often branched at apex. Fruit (in ours) either a dehiscent capsule or a schizocarp (composed of a number of mericarps arranged around a central axis). Comment: According to the most recent taxonomic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG-III), Malvaceae sensu lato now includes Bombacaceae, Tiliaceae and Sterculiaceae, three families traditionally considered closely related and in this system still treated as separate families. In this new concept Malvaceae would consist of the following nine subfamilies:
Worldwide: 78 genera and 1,670 species, cosmopolitan but especially in the tropics. Zimbabwe: 13 genera and 96 taxa. |
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Genus | Content |
Abelmoschus Medik. | Description, Image |
Abutilon Mill. | Description, Image |
Azanza Alef. | Description, Image |
Cienfuegosia Cav. | Description |
Gossypium L. | Description, Image |
Hibiscus L. | Description, Image |
Kosteletzkya C. Presl | Description, Image |
Malva L. | Description, Image |
Malvastrum A. Gray | Description, Image |
Pavonia Cav. | Description, Image |
Sida L. | Description, Image |
Urena L. | Description, Image |
Wissadula Medik. | Description, Image |
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