Malvales of Thailand

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Malvales

The Malvales are an order of flowering plants. As circumscribed by APG II-system, the order includes about 6000 species within 9 families. The order is placed in the eurosids II, which are part of the eudicots. The plants are mostly shrubs and trees; most of its families have a cosmopolitan distribution in the tropics and subtropics, with limited expansion into temperate regions.

Many species of Malvaceae sensu lato are known for their wood, with that of Ochroma (balsa) being known for its lightness, and that of Tilia (lime, linden, or basswood) as a popular wood for carving. Fruit of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) are used as an ingredient for chocolate. Kola nuts (genus Cola) are notable for their high content of caffeine, and in past were commonly used for preparing of various cola drinks.

Family: Bixaceae (Bixa Family)

Genera: Cochlospermum

Cochlospermum vitifolium (Chonburi Prov.)

Family: Dipterocarpaceae (Meranti Family)

Genera: Dipterocarpus, Shorea

Dipterocarpus alatus (Indonesian gurjun)

Dipterocarpus alatus (seeds)

Dipterocarpus intricatus (Chaiyaphum Prov.)

Dipterocarpus obtusifolius (flower) (Chaiyaphum Prov.)

Dipterocarpus obtusifolius (seed) (Chaiyaphum Prov.)

Shorea curtisii (Dark Red Meranti) (Chaiyaphum Prov.)

Family: Malvaceae (Linden or Mallow Family)

Genera: Abelmoschus, Abutilon, Bombax, Ceiba, Corchorus, Durio, Gossypium, Grewia, Helicteres, Helicteres, Hibiscus, Melochia, Pavonia, Pseudobombax, Pterocymbium, Sida, Thespesia, Triumfetta, Urena, Waltheria