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Botanical Family · Malvales

Malvaceae

Mallow/Hibiscus family

69 speciesOrder Malvales8+ well-known plants

The mallow family, expanded to include cotton (Gossypium), okra (Abelmoschus), hibiscus, and the tropical trees cacao and baobab. Characterised by distinctive monadelphous stamens fused into a column. Mucilaginous sap is common throughout the family.

Browse all 69 species ↓
Representative MALVACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Malvaceae
Key pattern

Alternate, often palmately lobed leaves; funnel-shaped flowers with numerous stamens fused into a distinctive central column around the pistil.

Famously mucilaginous when crushed — the same slippery quality prized in okra and traditionally used to soothe sunburn and sore throats.

Identify the species

Which Malvaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Malvaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
HabitWhat is the plant's growth form?
Climber
Herb
Shrub
Tree
EpicalyxIs there a ring of narrow bracts just below the true flower petals?
Absent
Present
Leaf ShapeWhat shape are the leaves?
Deeply palmately lobed
Narrow rhombic-elliptic
Not sure / other
Ovate
Ovate-cordate
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Not sure / other
Pink
Purple
White
Yellow
Flower SizeHow large are the flowers?
Large
Not sure / other
Small
Leaf ShapeWhat shape are the leaves?
Deeply palmately lobed
Lanceolate
Not sure / other
EpicalyxIs there a ring of narrow bracts just below the true flower petals?
Absent
Present
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Not sure / other
Orange
Yellow
Leaf MarginWhat does the leaf edge look like?
Lobed
Ordinary
Leaf MarginWhat does the leaf edge look like?
Crisped/wavy
Not sure / other
Ordinary
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Not sure / other
Pink
Purple
Red
Yellow
Petal OrientationHow do the petals hold themselves?
Flat spreading
Never fully opens
Reflexed backward
Leaf ShapeWhat shape are the leaves?
Lanceolate
Not sure / other
Ovate
Leaf ColorWhat color is the foliage?
Deep red/burgundy
Ordinary green
Leaf ShapeWhat shape are the leaves?
Cordate
Lanceolate
Not sure / other
Ovate-cordate
EpicalyxIs there a ring of narrow bracts just below the true flower petals?
Absent
Present

How to recognise the Malvaceae family

  • 01

    Staminal column (monadelphous)

  • 02

    Alternate palmately veined leaves

  • 03

    Mucilaginous sap; often star-shaped hairs

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Angled Wild MallowAbelmoschus angulosus var. angulosusLady's Finger, Gumbo, OkraAbelmoschus esculentusWhite Wild Musk MallowAbelmoschus ficulneusEdible HibiscusAbelmoschus manihotMusk Mallow, Ambrette, Vegetable Musk, MuskseedAbelmoschus moschatusCurly HerissantiaAbutilon crispumHairy Indian MallowAbutilon hirtumIndian MallowAbutilon indicum subsp. guineensis

All 69 species in MALVACEAE

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