Malvaceae
Malvaceae Juss. (1789)
Family of trees, shrubs, and herbs with cosmopolitan distribution, especially diverse in the tropics. Ranges from enormous trees like baobabs (Adansonia) and kapok (Ceiba) to essential crops like cotton (Gossypium) and cacao (Theobroma). Recognized by their flowers with free petals and a characteristic staminal column, as well as their varied fruits.
Adansonia
Adansonia
Genus of monumental trees known as baobabs, belonging to the Malvaceae family. Comprises 9 species: one in continental Africa, one in Australia, and seven endemic to Madagascar. They are famous for their enormous, barrel-shaped trunks capable of storing thousands of liters of water, fire-resistant bark, multi-century longevity, and their ecological role as providers of food and shelter for numerous wildlife species.
Brachychiton
Brachychiton
Genus of about 30 trees and shrubs native to Australia and New Guinea, commonly known as "bottle trees" or "kurrajong". Many species develop swollen trunks or bases that store water and carbohydrate reserves, an adaptation to the dry Mediterranean climate and Australian savannas. Their colorful bell-shaped flowers make them highly prized ornamental trees in warm regions worldwide.
Ceiba
Ceiba
Chorisia
Chorisia
Genus of large trees belonging to the family Malvaceae (subfamily Bombacoideae). Species are characterised by a bottle-shaped trunk covered with conical spines that stores water to survive seasonal droughts. They produce showy 5-petalled flowers and capsules filled with silky fibre. Many current authors merge this genus into Ceiba.