Malvales

Malvales is an order of flowering plants in the clade Malvidae of the Rosids, within the angiosperms. In traditional classifications it included several families such as Malvaceae, Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae. With the APG system and subsequent updates, Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae are now treated as subfamilies within Malvaceae, and molecular data have refined the circumscription of Malvales itself.

Plants in Malvales are primarily trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species found in tropical and subtropical regions, with some representatives reaching temperate zones. Leaves are usually alternate and simple, often with palmately lobed or deeply veined patterns. Flowers are typically actinomorphic with five petals; numerous stamens are often fused into a staminal tube surrounding the pistil, and an epicalyx may be present. Fruits vary and can be capsules, schizocarps, or berries, depending on the lineage.

The order includes several economically important genera. Cotton, Gossypium, is a major fiber crop, while Theobroma cacao produces cocoa. Other members contribute ornamental plants such as Hibiscus and Tilia (linden). The diverse morphology and widespread distribution of Malvales reflect a long evolutionary history in tropical ecosystems, with ongoing taxonomic revisions driven by phylogenetic research.

The name Malvales derives from the genus Malva (mallows). Across classifications, the group has undergone changes as phylogenetic insights have reshaped how families and subfamilies are grouped, leading to a more unified framework within Malvaceae in modern systems.