Plants Belonging To Malvaceae

The mallow family sports distinctly recognizable and attractive funnel-shaped flowers with 3 to 5 partially united sepals and 5 separate petals. There are 27 genera in North America, in addition to the mallows the family includes hibiscus, hollyhock, and cotton. Okra, a favorite staple of southern cuisine is the edible fruit of a variety of hibiscus. ^{Elpel, Thomas J.}