Genera       40        

Species  900 in our area 34  (Gray);  33 (B&B)⁴³

Distribution tropical and temperate

Flowers Showy, hollow column around style formed from numerous joined stamens

#Parts 5 sepals, united, 5 petals numerous stamens

Symmetry Regular.

Leaves entire or palmately ribbed, alternate.

Common cultivated species include hollyhocks, rose-of-Sharon and hibiscus. Cotton and okra are also from this family.