A family of 75 genera and over 1,000 species of herbs
and shrubs that includes taxa domesticated for food (okra - Abelmoschus
esculentus), fiber (cotton - Gossypium),
and ornament (Hibiscus,
hollyhock - Alcea).
Vegetative characters include a general palmate pattern of
leaf structure (a 'subset' character relative to pinnate), mucilaginous
sap (okra), an epicalyx
(many genera), and unusual, often complex trichomes. The androecium,
with its monadelphous stamens, is a
primary key character. This is supplemented by the pentamerous, actinomorphic
corolla that is basally adnate to the androecium.
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