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How are the sepals and petals arranged in typical Malvales flowers?
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Malvales
A fony baobab tree (Adansonia rubrostipa), estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, in Madagascar.
In typical flowers of the order Malvales, the arrangement of the sepals and petals follows specific patterns:
- Sepals: The sepals are typically arranged in a valvate manner, meaning they meet edge-to-edge rather than overlapping. They are often fused at the base.12
- Petals: In contrast to the sepals, the petals generally overlap one another in a regular, contorted pattern.12
While these are common characteristics for the order, there is some variation among families. For example, in the Cistaceae family, the petals are free and appear crumpled while in the bud, and the sepals exhibit size differences, with the inner three being significantly larger than the two outer ones. Additionally, many members of the Malvaceae family feature an epicalyxβan outer series of bracts that creates the appearance of a double calyx.2