Malvaceae -- the mallow family (100+/1,500; Cosmopolitan, most diverse in Neotropics)
Habit herbs, shrubs, or trees; often with stellate pubescence, and mucilaginous sap
Leaves alternate, simple, stipulate, often palmately-veined
Inflorescences various, usually determinate
Special floral characteristics flowers actinomorphic, often showy; monadelphous stamens; anthers unilocular
Calyx 5 sepals, distinct or connate; often subtended by an epicalyx
Corolla 5 petals, distinct, individually adnate to stamen column
Androecium many stamens, filaments connate into tube (=monadelphous) around pistil; anthers unilocular
Gynoecium 4-many carpels, connate; ovary superior with 4-many locules and 1-many axile ovules; style 1, often divided
Fruit = schizocarp (breaking into1-2-seeded mericarps) or a capsule (berry)
(Floral formula: Ca 5 Co 5 A ? G 3-? )