| | Family guide for fruits and seeds |
Synonyms: Brownlowiaceae Cheek; Durionaceae Cheek; Hibiscaceae J. Agardh; Philippodendraceae A. Juss.; Plagianthaceae J. Agardh
Common name: Mallow Family.
Number of genera 109. Number of species 1550.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium; schizocarp, or simple; capsule, or berry (not Spjut, but of authors for Malvaviscus & see druparium); achenarium, or camarium, or coccarium (Wissadula Spjut Fig. 15A), or druparium (Malvaviscus & berry of most authors); loculicidal capsule; capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; without persistent central column; not within accessory organ(s); (1–)2-carpellate (to many - often 5); with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; with carpels not radiating at maturity; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete; apex not beaked, or beaked; apex short beaked; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit endocarp(s). Dehiscent passively; without replum. Epicarp brown (all shades), or black; dull; durable; without armature; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent, or present. Endocarp present; not separating from exocarp; thin, or hard; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent. Seed larger than minute; 1 to less than 5 mm long to 10 to less than 25 mm long; 3–11 mm long (at least); sectoral shape, or circular, or reniform, or cuneate; in transection compressed, or terete; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves, or without apparent food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer, or with fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer (thin when dry: Abutilon rosea (L.) Cav.); tight; dull, or shiny; surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with discreet raised features, or merged raised features; surface granular, or papillate, or tuberculate, or warted; surface reticulate, or rugose; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle, or with crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other, or with notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approaching each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous, or pubescent; with hairs over surface, or hairs along margin; with medium length hairs, or long hairs; densely hairy; with straight hairs, or curly hairs; without glandular pubescence; without wings; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades), or black; crustaceous, or hard; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding embryo, or surrounding food reserve (more or less). Hilum larger than punctate. Endosperm development nuclear; copious; hard, or fleshy, or mucilaginous (rarely); smooth; without starch, or with starch (Gossypium); with oils, or proteins; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; completely filling testa (no food reserve); 1.6–1.8 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric; foliate; with investing cotyledons, or spatulate cotyledons; bent, or arcuate, or J-shaped, or straight; parallel to seed length; with cotyledons abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed; 0.5–0.8 times length of embryo; somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle; 4–5 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; partially concealing hypocotyl-radicle, or not concealing hypocotyl-radicle; foliaceous; thin; flat, or once-folded, or contorted, or plicate; smooth; with apices entire; with margins separate; basally entire, or cordate; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle moderately developed, or well developed; straight, or curved; not thickened.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Cronquist & Mabberley: Fruit samara. Corner: Abelmoschus "perisperm as a thin layer". No other genus of the family has perisperm.
Weed information
1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Delaware (DE), Hawaii (HI), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Maryland (MD), Michigan (MI), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), North Carolina (NC), Oregon (OR), Rhode Island (RI), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Abutilon theophrasti Medik.: USA state noxious weed: CO●°, IA●°, KS°, MI°, NC°, NH°, OR●, RI°, VT°, WA●°. -- Anoda cristata (L.) Schltdl.: USA state noxious weed: CO●°, DE°, MD°, NC°, NJ°. -- Hibiscus trionum L.: USA state noxious weed: CO●°. -- Malachra alceifolia Jacq.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov.: USA state noxious weed: CA●°. -- Sida hederacea (Douglas) Torr. ex A. Gray (=Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov.): USA state noxious weed: AZ°. -- Urena lobata L.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench -- Abutilon theophrasti Medik. -- Alcea rosea L. -- Althaea hirsuta L. -- Althaea officinalis L. -- Althaea rosea (L.) Cav. = Alcea rosea L. -- Anoda cristata (L.) Schltdl. -- Callirhoe involucrata (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray -- Gossypium barbadense L. -- Gossypium hirsutum L. -- Gossypium L. spp. -- Hibiscus cannabinus L. -- Hibiscus esculentus L. = Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench -- Hibiscus L. spp. -- Hibiscus trionum L. -- Lavatera trimestris L. -- Malachra alceifolia Jacq. -- Malva crispa (L.) L. = Malva verticillata var. crispa L. -- Malva moschata L. -- Malva neglecta Wallr. -- Malva parviflora L. -- Malva pusilla Sm. -- Malva rotundifolia L. = Malva pusilla Sm. -- Malva L. spp. -- Malva sylvestris L. -- Malva verticillata var. crispa L. -- Malva verticillata L. -- Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke -- Malvastrum hispidum (Pursh) Hochr. -- Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov. -- Melochia corchorifolia L. -- Sida hederacea (Douglas ex Hook.) Torr. ex A. Gray = Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov. -- Sida leprosa var. hederacea (Douglas ex Hook.) K. Schum. = Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov. -- Sida rhombifolia L. -- Sida spinosa L. -- Sida L. spp. -- Sidalcea A. Gray spp. -- Sidopsis hispida (Pursh) Rydb. = Malvastrum hispidum (Pursh) Hochr. -- Sphaeralcea ambigua A. Gray -- Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. -- Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb. -- Sphaeralcea munroana (Douglas ex Lindl.) Spach ex A. Gray -- Sphaeralcea parvifolia A. Nelson -- Sphaeralcea A. St.-Hil. spp. -- Tilia cordata Mill. -- Triumfetta bartramia L., nom. illeg. = Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. -- Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. -- Triumfetta semitriloba Jacq. -- Urena lobata L. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moencha -- Abutilon × hybridum hort. ex Vossf -- Abutilon megapotamicum (A. Spreng.) A. St.-Hil. & Naudin -- Abutilon ochsenii (Phil.) Reiche -- Abutilon pictum (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Walp. -- Abutilon striatum Dicks. ex Lindl.-- Abutilon theophrasti Medik.w -- Abutilon vitifolium (Cav.) C. Presl -- Alcea rosea L.f -- Althaea × hybrida hort. = Althaea Hybrids -- Althaea Hybrids f -- Althaea officinalis L.f -- Althaea rosea (L.) Cav. = Alcea rosea L. -- Gossypium anomalum Wawra -- Gossypium arboreum L.a -- Corynabutilon ochsenii (Phil.) Kearney = Abutilon ochsenii (Phil.) Reiche -- Corynabutilon vitifolium (Cav.) Kearney = Abutilon vitifolium (Cav.) C. Presl -- Gossypium herbaceum L.a -- Gossypium hirsutum L. a -- Gossypium klotzschianum Andersson -- Gossypium tomentosum Nutt. ex Seem. -- Gossypium trilobum (DC.) Skovst. -- Hibiscus cannabinus L.a -- Hibiscus elatus Sw.-- Hibiscus esculentus L. = Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench -- Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f.w -- Hibiscus sabdariffa L.w -- Hibiscus sinosyriacus L. H. Bailey -- Hibiscus syriacus L.w -- Hibiscus trionum L.f -- Lavatera trimestris L.f -- Malachra fasciata Jacq.w -- Malope trifida Cav.f -- Malva alcea L. -- Malva pusilla Sm.w -- Malva sylvestris L.t -- Sida acuta Burm. f.w -- Sida rhombifolia L.w -- Sida spinosa L.w -- Talipariti elatum (Sw.) Fryxell = Hibiscus elatus Sw.-- Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Correaw -- Urena lobata L.w -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Abelmoschus Medik. -- Abutilon Mill. -- Abutilothamnus Ulbr. -- Acaulimalva Krapov. -- Akrosida Fryxell & Fuertes -- Alcea L. -- Allosidastrum (Hochr.) Krapov. et al. -- Allowissadula D. M. Bates -- Althaea L. -- Alyogyne Alef. -- Anisodontea C. Presl -- Anoda Cav. -- Anotea (DC.) Kunth -- Asterotrichion Klotzsch -- Bakeridesia Hochr. -- Bastardia Kunth -- Bastardiastrum (Rose) D. M. Bates -- Bastardiopsis (K. Schum.) Hassl. -- Batesimalva Fryxell -- Billieturnera Fryxell -- Briquetia Hochr. -- Callirhoe Nutt. -- Calyculogygas Krapov. -- Calyptraemalva Krapov. -- Cenocentrum Gagnep. -- Cephalohibiscus Ulbr. -- Cienfuegosia Cav. -- Codonochlamys Ulbr. -- Corynabutilon (K. Schum.) Kearney -- Cristaria Cav., nom. cons. -- Decaschistia Wight & Arn. -- Dendrosida Fryxell -- Dicellostyles Benth. -- Dirhamphis Krapov. -- Eremalche Greene -- Fioria Mattei -- Fryxellia D. M. Bates -- Fuertesimalva Fryxell -- Gaya Kunth -- Gossypioides Skovst. ex J. B. Hutch. -- Gossypium L. -- Gynatrix Alef. -- Hampea Schltdl. -- Helicteropsis Hochr. -- Herissantia Medik. -- Hibiscadelphus Rock -- Hibiscus L., nom. cons. -- Hochreutinera Krapov. -- Hoheria A. Cunn. -- Horsfordia A. Gray -- Howittia F. Muell. -- Humbertianthus Hochr. -- Humbertiella Hochr. -- Iliamna Greene -- Julostylis Thwaites -- Jumelleanthus Hochr. -- Kearnemalvastrum D. M. Bates -- Kitaibela Willd. -- Kokia Lewton -- Kosteletzkya C. Presl, nom. cons. -- Krapovickasia Fryxell -- Kydia Roxb. -- Lagunaria (DC.) Rchb. -- Lavatera L. -- Lawrencia Hook. -- Lebronnecia Fosberg -- Lecanophora Speg. -- Macrostelia Hochr. -- Malachra L. -- Malacothamnus Greene -- Malope L. -- Malva L. -- Malvastrum A. Gray, nom. cons. -- Malvaviscus Fabr. -- Malvella Jaub. & Spach -- Megistostegium Hochr. -- Meximalva Fryxell -- Modiola Moench -- Modiolastrum K. Schum. -- Monteiroa Krapov. -- Napaea L. -- Nayariophyton T. K. Paul -- Neobaclea Hochr. -- Neobrittonia Hochr. -- Nototriche Turcz. -- Palaua Cav. -- Pavonia Cav., nom. cons. -- Peltaea (C. Presl) Standl., nom. cons. -- Periptera DC. -- Perrierophytum Hochr. -- Phragmocarpidium Krapov. -- Phymosia Desv. ex Ham. -- Plagianthus J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. -- Pseudabutilon R. E. Fr. -- Radyera Bullock -- Rhynchosida Fryxell -- Robinsonella Rose & Baker f. -- Rojasimalva Fryxell -- Senra Cav. -- Sida L. -- Sidalcea A. Gray -- Sidasodes Fryxell & Fuertes -- Sidastrum Baker f. -- Sphaeralcea A. St.-Hil. -- Symphyochlamys Gürke -- Talipariti Fryxell -- Tarasa Phil. -- Tetrasida Ulbr. -- Thespesia Sol. ex Corrêa, nom. cons. -- Urena L. -- Wercklea Pittier & Standl. -- Wissadula Medik.
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 358.
General references
Baillon, H.E. 1866–95. Histoire des plantes, 13 vols. Hachette and Co., Paris, Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. and K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gray, A. 1848. Genera florae Americae boreali-orientalis illustrata, 2 vols. James Munroe and Co., Boston., Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. and J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Poor fruit and seed illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or fruit, or seed, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Baillon, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prantl, Gray, Cronquist. Fruit illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Baillon, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prantl, Gray. Seed illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Baillon, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prant, Gray. Embryo illustration(s): Martin, Gunn & Ritchie, Baillon, Corner, Engler & Prantl, Gray.
• Seed. 1 of 26. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench: seeds. • Fruit. 2 of 26. Abutilon incanum (Link) Sweet: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 3 of 26. Abutilon incanum (Link) Sweet: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 4 of 26. Decaschistia crotonifolia Wight & Arn.: seeds. • Fruit. 5 of 26. Fuertesimalva peruvianum (L.) Fryxell: fruiting head. • Fruit. 6 of 26. Fuertesimalva peruvianum (L.) Fryxell: fruits. • Seed. 7 of 26. Fuertesimalva peruvianum (L.) Fryxell: seeds. • Fruit. 8 of 26. Gossypium anomalum Wawra: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 9 of 26. Gossypium anomalum Wawra: seeds. • Fruit. 10 of 26. Hibiscadelphus giffardianus Rock: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 11 of 26. Hibiscadelphus giffardianus Rock: seeds. • Seed. 12 of 26. Hibiscus sabdariffa L.: seeds. • Seed. 13 of 26. Hibiscus syriacus L.: seeds. • Fruit. 14 of 26. Hibiscus trionum L.: fruit. • Seed. 15 of 26. Hibiscus trionum L.: seeds. • Fruit. 16 of 26. Kokia drynarioides (Seem.) Lewton: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 17 of 26. Kokia drynarioides (Seem.) Lewton: seed. • Fruit. 18 of 26. Malva silvestris L.: fruits. • Seed. 19 of 26. Malva silvestris L.: seeds. • Fruit. 20 of 26. Sida rhombifolia L.: fruit with calyx. • Seed. 21 of 26. Sida rhombifolia L.: fruits. • Fruit. 22 of 26. Sidalcea neomexicana A. Gray: fruit. • Seed. 23 of 26. Sidalcea neomexicana A. Gray: fruit segments. • Embryo. 24 of 26. Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn.: embryos. • Embryo. 25 of 26. Fuertesimalva peruvianum (L.) Fryxell: embryos. • Embryo. 26 of 26. Sida spinosa L.: embryos.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
