Sterculiaceae was a family of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

based on the genus ''

Sterculia ''Sterculia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae: subfamily Sterculioideae (previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae). Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts. ''Sterculia'' ma ...

''. Genera formerly included in Sterculiaceae are now placed in the family

Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familiar ...

, in the subfamilies:

Byttnerioideae Byttnerioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Malvaceae. Tribes and genera Four tribes are recognised by the Germplasm Resources Information Network: Byttnerieae *'' Abroma'' Jacq. *'' Ayenia'' L. *''Byttneria'' Loefl. *'' Kleinh ...

Dombeyoideae Dombeyoideae is a widely distributed subfamily of the Malvaceae, as proposed by the APG. Most of the plants placed here were once assembled with more or less related genera in the paraphyletic Sterculiaceae; a lesser number were placed in the Ti ...

Helicteroideae Helicteroideae is a subfamily of the family Malvaceae. Some taxonomists place genera in Helicteroideae in distinct families Durionaceae and Helicteraceae,Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A. & Seberg, O. 2007: Flowering Plant Families of th ...

and

Sterculioideae Sterculioideae is a subfamily of the family Malvaceae containing evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. A 2006 molecular study indicated the Sterculioideae was most likely to be a monophyletic group, and that it had four major clades within ...

. As traditionally circumscribed the Sterculiaceae,

Bombacaceae Bombacaceae were long recognised as a family of flowering plants or Angiospermae. The family name was based on the type genus ''Bombax''. As is true for many botanical names, circumscription and status of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point ...

, and

Tiliaceae Tiliaceae () is a family of flowering plants. It is not a part of the APG, APG II and APG III classifications, being sunk in Malvaceae mostly as the subfamilies Tilioideae, Brownlowioideae and Grewioideae, but has an extensive historical record o ...

comprise the "core

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 ...

" of the

Cronquist system The Cronquist system is a taxonomic classification system of flowering plants. It was developed by Arthur Cronquist in a series of monographs and texts, including ''The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants'' (1968; 2nd edition, 1988) a ...

and the close relationship among these families is generally recognized. Sterculiaceae may be separated from Malvaceae ''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

'' by the smooth surface of the

pollen grain Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametop ...

s and the bilocular

anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s. Numerous phylogenetic studies have revealed that Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae and Bombacaceae as traditionally defined are

cladistically Cladistics (; ) is an approach to biological classification in which organisms are categorized in groups ("clades") based on hypotheses of most recent common ancestry. The evidence for hypothesized relationships is typically shared derived chara ...

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of converg ...

. The APG and

APG II The APG II system (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II system) of plant classification is the second, now obsolete, version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy that was published in April 2003 by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Gr ...

systems unite Bombacaceae, Malvaceae ''sensu stricto'', Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae into a more widely circumscribed Malvaceae, i.e., Malvaceae ''

sensu lato ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

''. In that view the taxa formerly classified in Sterculiaceae are treated in the subfamilies

and

of the Malvaceae ''sensu lato''. The

Thorne system A system of plant taxonomy, the Thorne system of plant classification was devised by the American botanist Robert F. Thorne (1920–2015) in 1968, and he continued to issue revisions over many years (1968–2007). Some versions of the system are ...

takes an intermediate approach in combining the bulk of the traditional Sterculiaceae (but not including ''Sterculia'' itself) with elements of the traditional

to form the family Byttneriaceae. Sterculiaceae had previously been recognized as a family by most systematists; in its traditional sense the family includes about 70 genera, totalling around 1,500 species of tropical trees and shrubs. The most famous products of the family are

chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civ ...

and

cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...

from ''

Theobroma cacao ''Theobroma cacao'', also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small ( tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate. The largest pro ...

'', followed by

kola nut The term kola nut usually refers to the seeds of certain species of plant of the genus ''Cola'', placed formerly in the cocoa family Sterculiaceae and now usually subsumed in the mallow family Malvaceae (as subfamily Sterculioideae). These cola ...

s. Many species yield timber. A 2006 molecular study indicated the Sterculioideae was most likely to be a monophyletic group, and that it had four major clades within it. However, the relationships between the clades were not resolved.

Genera

*'' Abroma'' Jacq *''

Acropogon ''Acropogon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. The genus is endemic to New Caledonia. It contains around 25 species. Its closest relatives are Australian genera: ''Argyrodendron'', '' Brachychiton'' and ''Franciscodendron ...

'' Schltr *'' Aethiocarpa'' Vollesen *''

Astiria ''Astiria'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. Its native range is Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label= Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an isla ...

'' Lindl *'' Ayenia'' L. *'' Brachychiton'' Schott & Endl *''

Byttneria ''Byttneria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. There are about 135 species in this pantropical genus. ''Byttneria'' species are host plants to insects such as beetles of the genus '' Lonchophorellus''.Clark, W. 1989''Lonch ...

'' Loefl *'' Cheirolaena'' Benth *''

Chiranthodendron ''Chiranthodendron'' is a flowering plant genus in the family Malvaceae. It comprises a single species of tree, ''Chiranthodendron pentadactylon''. Names The tree is called the devil's, monkey's or Mexican hand tree or the hand-flower in English ...

'' Larreat *''

Cola Cola is a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus oils and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked brand, in 1886, which was imita ...

'' Schott & Endl *''

Commersonia ''Commersonia'' is a genus of twenty-five species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. Plants in this genus are shrubs or trees, occurring from Indochina to Australia and have stems, leaves and flowers covered with star-like hairs. The le ...

'' J.R.Forst. & G.Forst *'' Cotylonychia'' Stapf *'' Dicarpidium'' F.Muell *''

Dombeya ''Dombeya'' is a flowering plant genus. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae in the APG and most subsequent systematics. These plants are known by a number of vernacular names which sometim ...

'' Cav. *''

Eriolaena ''Eriolaena'' is a genus of flowering plants. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included now in the recently expanded Malvaceae. The genus is distributed in Asia, from southern China through Indochina to India, Bangladesh, ...

'' DC *''

Firmiana ''Firmiana'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, formerly placed in the now defunct Sterculiaceae; it may sometimes be called the "parasol tree". The genus name honours Karl Joseph von Firmian. Species The Catalogue of Life l ...

'' Marsili *''

Franciscodendron ''Franciscodendron'' is a monotypic genus in the subfamily Sterculioideae (previously the family Sterculiaceae) within the family Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 ...

'' B.Hyland & Steenis *''

Fremontodendron ''Fremontodendron'', with the common names fremontia and flannelbush or flannel bush, is a genus of three known species of shrubs native to the Southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. Taxonomy They are within the botanical family Malv ...

'' Coville *''

Gilesia ''Gilesia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is also in the Byttnerioideae Byttnerioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Malvaceae. Tribes and genera Four tribes are recognised by the ...

'' F.Muell *'' Glossostemon'' Desf. *'' Guazuma'' Mill. *''

Guichenotia ''Guichenotia'' is a genus of about 16 species of flowering plants that are endemic to the south west of Western Australia. The genus was first formally described in 1821 by Jaques Étienne Gay in '' Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle'' ...

'' J.Gay *''

Hannafordia ''Hannafordia '' is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia Species include: *''Hannafordia bissillii'' F.Muell. – Grey Felt-bush or ''Tjirin-tjirinpa'' (Ngaanyatjarra language) *''Hannafordia quadrivalvis'' F.Muell. *''Hanna ...

'' F.Muell *''

Harmsia ''Harmsia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is native to Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The genus name of ''Harmsia'' is in honour of Hermann Harms (1870–1942), a German taxonomist and botanist. It was first ...

'' K.Schum *'' Helicteres'' L. *'' Helmiopsiella'' Arenes *''

Helmiopsis ''Helmiopsis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. Its native range is Madagascar. The genus name of ''Helmiopsis'' is in honour of C. Helm, German clergyman in Berlin and amateur botanist. It was first described a ...

'' H.Perrier *''

Heritiera ''Heritiera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae. They are most dominant tropical forest trees in several areas in eastern Africa and India to the Pacific. Some are mangroves. Several are valuable for ...

'' Aiton *'' Hermannia'' L. *'' Herrania'' Goudot *'' Hildegardia'' Schott & Endl *'' Keraudrenia'' J.Gay *'' Kleinhovia'' L. *''

Lasiopetalum ''Lasiopetalum'', commonly known as velvet bushes, is a genus of about forty-five species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, all endemic to Australia. Description Most species of ''Lasiopetalum'' are spreading or prostrate, many ...

'' Sm. *'' Leptonychia'' Turcz *'' Leptonychiopsis'' Ridl *''

Lysiosepalum ''Lysiosepalum'' is a genus of plants in the family Malvaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Species The following is a list of names of ''Lysiosepalum'' species accepted by the Australian Plant Census The Australian Pl ...

'' F.Muell *'' Mansonia'' J.R.Drumm. ex Prain *'' Maxwellia'' Baill. *'' Megatritheca'' Cristobal *''

Melhania ''Melhania'' is a genus of small shrubs or herbaceous plants. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae in the APG and most subsequent systematics. The genus is named for Mount Melhan in Yemen. ...

'' Forssk. *'' Melochia'' L. *'' Neoregnellia'' Urb. *'' Nesogordonia'' Baill. *''

Octolobus ''Octolobus'' is a genus of tropical forest trees in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae (previously placed in the Sterculiaceae). They are found in Central and West Africa and are closely related to the genus ''Cola Cola is a ca ...

'' Welw. *'' Paradombeya'' Stapf *'' Paramelhania'' Arenes *''

Pentapetes ''Pentapetes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, c ...

'' L. *'' Pimia'' Seem. *''

Pterocymbium ''Pterocymbium'' is a genus in the family Malvaceae: in the subfamily Sterculioideae and previously placed in the Sterculiaceae. In Indonesia, ''P. tinctorium'' (''Kelumbuk'') is a significant timber tree. Species ''Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' R.Br. *''

Pterospermum ''Pterospermum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. Its species are tropical trees that range from southern China across tropical Asia. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expande ...

'' Schreb. *''

Pterygota The Pterygota ( grc, πτερυγωτός, pterugōtós, winged) are a subclass of insects that includes the winged insects. It also includes insect orders that are secondarily wingless (that is, insect groups whose ancestors once had wings b ...

'' Schott & Endl *'' Rayleya'' Cristobal *''

Reevesia ''Reevesia'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cot ...

'' Lindl *'' Ruizia'' Cav. *'' Rulingia'' R.Br. *''

Scaphium ''Scaphium'' is a genus of about eight species of plants in the subfamily Sterculioideae of the family Malvaceae. Species * '' Scaphium affine'' (Mast.) Pierre * '' Scaphium burkillfilii'' Kosterm. * '' Scaphium linearicarpum'' (Mast.) Pierre ...

'' Schott & Endl *'' Scaphopetalum'' Mast *'' Seringia'' J.Gay *''

'' L. *''

Theobroma ''Theobroma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is sometimes classified as a member of Sterculiaceae. It contains roughly 20 species of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and So ...

'' L. *''

Thomasia ''Thomasia'' is a genus of thirty-one species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. Plants in this genus are small shrubs that are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, apart from '' T. petalocalyx'' that is native to Victori ...

'' J.Gay *''

Triplochiton ''Triplochiton'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. It is a small genus of trees comprising tall tropical African trees with palmately lobed alternate leaves like those of the maple and being included in the ''Sterculiaceae'' ...

'' K.Schum *''

Trochetia ''Trochetia'' is a genus of flowering plants from the family Malvaceae (formerly in the Sterculiaceae, but this family is now usually subsumed in the Malvaceae). They are endemic to the Mascarene Islands. The genus was first described by A.P. d ...

'' DC *''

Trochetiopsis The flowering plant genus ''Trochetiopsis'' consists of two extant and one extinct species endemic to the island of Saint Helena (South Atlantic Ocean). They were formerly placed in the family Sterculiaceae, but this is included in the expanded ...

'' Marais *''

Ungeria ''Ungeria'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. It just contains one species, ''Ungeria floribunda'' Schott & Endl. It is also in the Helicteroideae subfamily and Helictereae tribe. Its native range is Nor ...

'' Schott & Endl *'' Waltheria'' L.

Notes

References

* Whitlock, B. A., C. Bayer, and D. A. Baum. 2001. Phylogenetic Relationships and Floral Evolution of the Byttnerioideae ("Sterculiaceae" or Malvaceae s.l.) Based on Sequences of the Chloroplast Gene, ''ndhF''. ''Systematic Botany'' 26: 420–437 (abstract onlin
here
. * Wilkie, P., Clark, A., Pennington, R. T., Cheek, M., Bayer, C. & Wilcock, C. C. (2006).Phylogenetic Relationships within the Subfamily Sterculioideae (Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae-Sterculieae) Using the Chloroplast Gene ndhF. ''Systematic Botany'' 31(1):160-170.

External links

i
L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards)
''The families of flowering plants: descriptions''.
Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae - Sterculieae
at th
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1071125 Malvales families Historically recognized angiosperm families