Which Malvales plants produce important foods such as durian and kola nuts?

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Within the order Malvales, both durian and kola nuts are produced by plants belonging to the family Malvaceae.12

  • Durian: The famous durian fruit is obtained from the tree Durio zibethinus, a member of the genus Durio.13
  • Kola nuts: These are produced by trees in the genus Cola, specifically Cola acuminata and C. nitida.42

Historically, these genera were classified in separate families (such as Bombacaceae and Sterculiaceae), but modern DNA evidence has led botanists to include them within the larger, unified family Malvaceae.1