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list of economically important members of the family Malvaceae
The mallow family (Malvaceae) is a diverse group of flowering plants distributed nearly worldwide. Noted for their attractive flowers, many are grown as garden ornamentals, and a number are cultivated for their useful fibres. The following is a list of some of the major plants in the family, ordered alphabetically by common name.
fibres and wood products
- balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)
- basswood (Tilia americana)
- bombax cotton (Bombax species)
- Ceiba species
- kapok (C. pentandra)
- silk-floss tree (C. speciosa)
- Corchorus species
- white jute (C. capsularis)
- tossa jute (C. olitorius)
- cotton (Gossypium species)
- urena (Urena lobata)
- velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
food crops
- cacao (Theobroma cacao)
- Cola species
- kola nut (C. acuminata and C. nitida)
- durian (Durio zibethinus)
- okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
- tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius)
fragrances
- musk mallow (Abelmoschus moschatus)
ornamentals
- Ceiba species
- silk-floss tree (C. speciosa)
- Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex)
- flannelbush (Fremontodendron species)
- hibiscus (Hibiscus species)
- rose of Sharon (H. syriacus)
- hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
- honey bell (Hermannia verticillata)
- mallow (Malva species)
- musk mallow (M. moschata)
- tree mallow (M. aborea)
- sugarplum tree (Lagunaria patersoni)
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