Malvaceae Family and Plant Classifications

Malvaceae Family

• Also known as the Mallow family.
• Key Features:
  • Monothecous and tetrasporangiate stamens.
  • Many endospermic seeds in the fruit.
  • Polypetalous corolla.
  • Some members may lack epicalyx.
• Examples:
  • Hibiscus
  • Gossypium (Cotton)
  • Abelmoschus (Okra)
• Floral Characteristics:
  • Actinomorphic flowers
  • Pentamerous calyx and corolla
  • Twisted corolla
  • Exstipulated leaves
  • Staminal tube
  • Polyadelphous stamens
  • Epipetalous stamens
  • Schizocarpic fruits and capsules.
  • Superior Ovary, Hypogynous flowers.

Other Families and Characteristics:

• Fabaceae (Pea family):
  • Basal placentation
• Liliaceae (Lily family):
  • Bisporangiate Stamens
  • Epiphyllous Stamens
• Poaceae (Grass family):
  • Marginal Placentation
  • Lodicules
  • Spikelet

Incorrect Matches:

• Binola oil is not from the Cruciferae family. It's from the Malvaceae family, specifically the Gossypium genus (Cotton).
• Marginal placentation is associated with the Poaceae family (Grass family), not the Malvaceae family.
• **The Sunflower (Helianthus) belongs to the Asteraceae family (Compositae), not the Malvaceae family. **
• The Malvaceae family does have a capsule fruit, so this statement is correct.

Other Key Points

• **The floral formula provides information about the presence of extra whorls, epipetalous stamens, and monothecous anthers. **
• The floral formula does not include information about the superior gynoecium. This is a general characteristic of the Malvaceae family.
• The Malvaceae family does not have valvate aestivation in the calyx. The corolla is the whorl that may exhibit valvate aestivation. The calyx is mainly twisted.

Test your knowledge on the Malvaceae family, also known as the Mallow family. This quiz delves into key features, floral characteristics, and comparisons with other plant families like Fabaceae and Poaceae. Discover the unique traits that define these botanical families.