MALVACEAE

CVI. MALVACEAE View in CoL 12

Herbs, shrubs or small trees with simple (but sometimes deeply palmatisect), alternate, stipulate leaves. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Bracteoles usually present immediately below the calyx, forming an epicalyx. Sepals 5, united at the base; petals 5, free or united slightly at the base. Stamens numerous, the filaments united for most of their length to form a tube which surrounds the ovary and styles. Ovary superior, of 4 or more (usually numerous) carpels; styles usually free. Fruit a schizocarp or a loculicidal capsule. 1 Epicalyx absent

2 Annual, with suborbicular leaves; fruit hairy, each carpel with several seeds 9. Abutilon

2 Woody perennial, with oblong-lanceolate leaves; fruit glabrous, each carpel 1 -seeded 3. Sida 1 Epicalyx present 3 Carpels 3-5; fruit a capsule 4 Epicalyx-segmentsbroadly ovateto deflate 11. Gossypium 4 Epicalyx-segments linear 5 Fruit depressed, 5-angled, with 1 seed in each loculus 14. Kosteletzkya 5 Fruit at least as long as wide, rounded, with several seeds in each loculus 6 Fruit not more than twice as long as wide; calyx persistent in fruit 12. Hibiscus 6 Fruit more than twice as long as wide; calyx deciduous 13. Abelmoschus 3 Carpelsatleast6; fruita schizocarp 7 Epicalyx-segments 5 or more 8 Mericarps in several superimposed planes, forming a ± globose head 2. Kitaibela 8 Mericarps in a single whorl, forming a circular disc 9 Staminal tube terete; flowers not more than 30 mm in diameter, at least some of them on conspicuous pedicels or peduncles 7. Althaea 9 Staminal tube 5-angled; flowers at least 30 mm in diameter,

subsessile in a spike-like inflorescence 8. Alcea 7 Epicalyx-segments 2-3 10 Epicalyx-segments united at the base, at least in bud

6. Lavatera 10 Epicalyx-segments free, even in bud 11 Mericarps forming a ± globose head; epicalyx-segments wider than sepals 1. Malope 11 Mericarps in a single whorl, forming a circular disc;

epicalyx-segments narrower than sepals 12 Stigmas terminal, capitate; mericarps 2-seeded 10. Modiola 12 Stigmas lateral, filiform; mericarps 1-seeded

13 Mericarps inflated; petals rounded at apex 4. Malvella

13 Mericarps not inflated; petals emarginate or 2-lobed

5. Malva