malvids

Malvids, also called Malvidae, is a major clade within the Rosids, one of the two principal subgroups of the eudicots in many modern classifications. In APG-based systems, Rosids are divided into Fabids and Malvids, with Malvids recognized as a coherent, monophyletic group supported mainly by molecular data from chloroplast and nuclear genes. The clade encompasses a diverse range of plants, from herbs to large trees, and includes many lineages of substantial ecological and economic importance.

Origin and evolution: Molecular dating places the origin of Malvids in the Early to mid-Cretaceous, roughly 100–125 million years ago. Diversification continued through the Late Cretaceous and into the Cenozoic, contributing to the broad ecological spread of the group.

Composition and relationships: Malvids contains several well-known lineages, including the orders Brassicales, Malvales, and Sapindales, among others. Representative families include Brassicaceae (mustards), Malvaceae (mallows, including cotton and cacao), and Rutaceae (citrus). The exact membership of Malvids can vary somewhat among classification systems, but these lineages are consistently recovered as part of Malvids in modern, APG-based frameworks.

Characteristics: There are no universally shared morphological traits that diagnose all Malvids; the clade is defined primarily by molecular evidence. Members are ecologically and economically diverse, occupying a wide range of habitats and climates.

Taxonomic note: Malvids is one of the two major rosid clades, together with Fabids, and constitutes a central component of the rosid radiation within flowering plants.