Botany: 204 genera; 2300 species; phloem stratified with fibrous and soft layers; hairs stellate; sepals connate; leaves with malvoid teeth; stamens numerous, develop centrifugally from a few bundles.
TaxonomyThe order of the
Malvales has been established a long time. But the exact placement has been problematic. It was for long thought to be connected with the
Rosales.
Malvales has 3 subclades: 2 early diverging families
Neuradaceae and
Thymelaeaceae, an extended Malvaceae and a clade with
Dipterocarpaceae and
Cistaceae.
In the
Plant theory the Order of the
Malvales is split into the above subclades. The extended Malvaceae is raised to the level of an Order,
Malvales and the subfamilies are treated as families. The other suborder, that of
Dipterocarpaceae and
Cistaceae, is treated as
Cistales.
Cistales is placed in
Phase 5 of the
Malvidae. The Families
Neuradaceae and
Thymelaeaceae are included in
Huerteales, in
Phase 2 of the
Malvidae.
Phases1.
Bixaceae.
2.
Sphaerosepalaceae.
3.
Cistaceae.
4.
Sarcolaenaceae.
5.
Dipterocarpaceae.
6.
Muntingiaceae7.
Cytinaceae.