Description of the family:
Herbs, shrubs or trees. Stipules usually present. Leaves usually alternate, simple or digitately compound. Flowers bisexual, unisexual or polygamous, actinomorphic. Calyx ± divided into (usually 5) lobes. Epicalyx bracts usually present. Petals usually 5, hypogynous or 0. Stamens 5-many, staminodes sometimes present. Anthers 2-thecous. Ovary superior, 2-5-locular or with 2-5 ± coherent carpels which separate in fruit.
Comment:
According to the most recent taxonomic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG-III), this family is now included in Malvaceae. As this new concept still appears to be highly controversial we will remain to treat it as a separate family until further information is available.
Worldwide:
67 genera and 1500 species, mostly tropical and warm areas but a few temperate.
Zimbabwe:
8 genera and 33 taxa.
- Cola Schott & Endl.
- Dombeya Cav.
- Hermannia L.
- Melhania Forssk.
- Melochia L.
- Sterculia L.
- Triplochiton K.Schum.
- Waltheria L.