The Four Tribes of Malvoideae

Subfamily Malvoideae now comprises the traditional Malvaceae and has consistently emerged as a very homogeneous, monophyletic group. In a recent treatment of Malvoideae, Bayer and Kutbitzki (2003) divide the subfamily into four tribes: Gossypieae, Hibisceae, Kydieae, and Malveae.

The Malvoideae can be further ranked into the tribes listed below:

Malvoideae Tribes

Tribe Gossypieae

Tribe Gossypieae has been redifined to include eight genera: Gossypium, Cephalohibiscus, Cienfuegosia, Hampea, Kokia, Gossypioides, Lebronnecia and Thespesia. It is specifically separated from the Hibisceae tribe based on embryo structure and the presence of pigment glands. These glands are associated with the capacity to synthesize the pigment gossypol. The Gossypieae appear to be unique in possessing these glands and this capacity.

More than 50 species of Gossypium are distributed in arid to semi-arid regions of the tropics and subtropics. Of these, four species were independently domesticated for their fiber (cotton) in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Gossypium species exhibit extraordinary morphological variation, with a diverse array of characteristics, ranging from trailing herbaceous perennials to 15m tall trees.

Tribe Hibisceae

Tribe Hibisceae is best known for its largest genus, Hibiscus — one of the world's most popular horticultural plant genera — which includes more than 300 species worldwide. The tribe Hibisceae includes (but is not limited to) :  Abelmoschus, Hibiscadelphus, Hibiscus, Kosteletzkya, Malvaviscus, Pavonia, Radyera, Talipariti and Wercklea.

Tribe Kydieae

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Tribe Malveae

Tribe Malveae includes approximately 70 genera (1000 species) that encompass the majority of the morphological and taxonomic diversity in the Malvoideae subfamily. The genera of Malveae exhibit a broad geographic distribution, with representatives in both tropic and temperate areas in a variety of habitats. Around 15 of the 70 Malveae genera have mostly temperate distributions, while some of the largest genera in the tribe (Abutilon, Sida, Nototriche) have primarily tropical distributions.

The Nine Subfamilies of Malvaceae

The Malvaceae family presents many challenges for taxonomists. Opinions often differ as where to draw the lines between species, between genera, between tribes and between the subfamilies. This is not surprising — the Malvaceae family encompasses over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species!

In terms of number of species, the largest genera include Hibiscus (~300 species), Sterculia (~250 species), Dombeya (~225 species), Pavonia (~200 species) and Sida (~200 species).

In recent years an expanded circumscription of the Malvaceae family has been created, which is composed of nine subfamilies. The relationships between these subfamilies are still obscure, and the subject of ongoing discussion. The traditional Malvaceae have been moved to Malvoideae, the subfamily that now approximately corresponds to that group.

The Nine Subfamilies of Malavacae

1. Bombacoideae (formerly Bombacaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~120 species).

2. Brownlowioideae,  8 genera, (~70 species).

3. Byttnerioideae, 26 genera, (~650 species).

4. Dombeyoideae, ~20 genera, (~380 species).

5. Grewioideae, 25 genera, (~770 species).

6. Helicteroideae, 8 to 12 genera, 10 to 90 species.

7. Sterculioideae, (formerly Sterculiaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~430 species).

8. Tilioideae, (formerly Tiliaceae, in part) 3 genera, (~50 species).

9. Malvoideae, (formerly Malvaceae), 78 genera, (~1,600 species). 

Cute Ornamental Plants

Species : Pachira aquatica

Synonyms : Carolinea macrocarpa, Bombax macrocarpum, B. glabrum, P. macrocarpa, etc

Common names : Malabar chestnut, Guina chestnut, provision tree, saba nut, 發財樹, 美國花生, 瓜栗, etc

Family : Malvaceae

Species : Tillandsia usneoides

Synonyms : Dendropogon usneoides, Renealmia usenoides, T. crinite, T. Filiformis, T. trichoides, etc

Common names : Spanish moss

Family : Bromeliaceae

Species : Tillandsia bergeri

Family : Bromeliaceae

Species : Dischidia ruscifolia

Common names : million hearts, etc

Family : Apocynaceae

Urena lobata - Pulut-Pulut

Urena lobata is an annual shrub of the family Malvaceae.  It is widely distributed in the tropics, probably of Asiatic origin.

  

Urena lobata’s flowers are about 2-3cm diameter, 5-merous, with brilliant pink petals, almost similar to those of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, only smaller.   The fruits are partially spherical schizocarp, 5-compartment, barbed.

In Malaysia, it is known as pulut-pulut, or pulut lembu.  It grows on wastelands as well as cultivated lands as weeds.  It has been declared a noxious weed in Fiji.  The stem fibers are used for making carpets and rope in Brazil and Zaire.

Hibiscus sabdariffa - Roselle 洛神花

Roselle, is Hibiscus sabdariffa L., a species of annual flowering plant native to the tropics of Old World.  Some says its from Africa, others say its from India...  Something for sure, it has been long cultivated in both Africa and Asia. 

Roselle is called by many names in different parts of the world, among the prominent ones are : flor de Jamaica, sorrel, bissap, asam paya, 洛神花 ,etc.  

The generic name is derived from the Greek word  ἱβίσκος ( hibískos ), which was the name Pedanius Dioscorides (ca. 40–90) gave to Althaea officinalis.

Besides being called Hibiscus sabdariffa, roselle too have other synonyms : Abelmoschus cruentus Bertol., H. cordofanus Turcz., H. digitatus Cav., H. fraternus L., H. inermis, H. palmatilobus Baill., Sabdariffa rubra Kostel., etc

Roselle can grow up to 3 m in height. 

Leaves green to red ; alternate ; glabrous ; long-petiolate ; palmately divided into 3 – 7 lobes ; serrate margins.

Flowers large ; pink with dark-red center.

Fruits ovoid capsules, encapsulated by fleshy red calyx.

Roselle is a hermaphroditic, pollinated by insects.

It is a short-day plant, flowering when day-length is less than 13.5 hour.

Propagation is by seeds

Several cultivars are known : ‘Arab’, ‘Archer’, ‘Rico’, ‘Victor’, ‘Terengganu’, ’UMKL-1’,  etc

Roselle had been used in traditional medicine as a diuretic, laxative, and treatment for cardiac and verve disease.

Calyces are used as food colorings, infused into drink, made into jams, etc.

Young leaves are consumed as greens.  Heated leaves are applied to cracks in feet.  Mashed leaves are used to treat wounds and sores.

Roselle is rich in anthocyanins and protocatechuic acid.  Small amounts of myrtiline, chrysanthenin and delphinidin are also present.

Dried calyces contains gossypetin, hibiscetine and sadaretine.

Seeds contant g-tocopherol.

Ceibo pentrandra - Kekabu

Kekabu ( in Malay ) is Ceiba pentrandra, a tropical tree of the family Malavaceae ( previously a member of Bombacaceae.   Bombacaceae is not recognized by the APG I 1998, APG II 2003 and Kubitzki System 2003 as a family, instead as a subfamily Bombacoideae within Malavaceae sensu lato  ) , native to tropical America.   Another variety, Ceiba pentrandra var. guineensis, native to tropical west Africa.   It is mostly known as Kapok.

The tree grows up to 60 – 70 m tall.  The leaves are compound of 5 – 9 leaflets, each up to 20cm length.  The fruit is about 15cm in length, dehiscent.  The seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fiber that is a mix of lignin and cellulose.

USES

The fibre is light, buoyant, resilient and resistant to water.  It is difficult to spin thus is used as an alternative as filling in mattresses, pillow, stuffed toys, and for insulation.  

Seeds produced oil used in soap making.

CULTURE

The tree is the official national tree of Puerto Rico and Guatemala.

The Honduran city of La Ceiba, and Puerto Rican town of Ceiba were named after this tree.

It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology