Chemicals in the seeds and foliage of some species are toxic to livestock. Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Dilleniidae, Malvales Malvaceae-The Mallow Family Malva, Sidelcea, Hibiscus, Gossypium A cosmopolitan family of 75 genera and 1500 species with the center of distribution in the American tropics. Herbs, shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, simple and stipulate. Inflorescence various, usually determinate.
Flowers perfect, regular.
Sepals 5, distinct or connate, often subtended by bractlets. Petals 5, distinct, individually adnate to stamen column. The family is economically important in many regards. The root sap of Althaea officinalis was historically used in the production of marshmallows. The pubescence on the seed is used in the production of fiber.