''Anisodontea'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
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 ...
s in the tribe Malveae of the mallow 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 ...
. It comprises twenty-one species native to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. Members of the genus typically bear toothed leaves with three or five palmate, uneven lobes. Members of the genus also typically bear flowers with a pubescent calyx, a five-petaled corolla streaked from the center and pink to magenta in color, and
stamens
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 filame ...
with anthers of a dark color.
Cultivation
Members of the genus are classed as half-hardy. They thrive in cool-temperate climates and are used as summer bedding and in mild coastal areas where they may be grown as border plants. For several species, the seeds should be sown in spring. Half-harden cuttings should be taken in summer but need bottom heat. They do best in loam-based gritty compost and positioned in full sun.
''Anisodontea capensis'', the African mallow, is a recipient of the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...
's
Award of Garden Merit.
Species
''
Anisodontea alexandrii''
''
Anisodontea anomala''
''
Anisodontea biflora''
''
Anisodontea bryoniifolia''
''
Anisodontea capensis''
''
Anisodontea dissecta''
''
Anisodontea dregeana''
''
Anisodontea elegans''
''
Anisodontea fruticosa''
''
Anisodontea gracilis''
''
Anisodontea hypomandarum''
''
Anisodontea julii''
''
Anisodontea malvastroides''
''
Anisodontea procumbens''
''
Anisodontea pseudocapensis''
''
Anisodontea racemosa''
''
Anisodontea reflexa''
''
Anisodontea scabrosa''
''
Anisodontea setosa''
''
Anisodontea theronii''
''
Anisodontea triloba''
References
*Lord, Tony; Flora : The Gardener's Bible, Cassell (London), 2003
*http://www.homolaicus.com/scienza/erbario/utility/botanica_sistematica/hypertext/0110.htm#000000 Botanica Sistematica
External links
PlantZAfrica.com: profile of ''Anisodontea julii''
Malveae
Flora of South Africa
Malvaceae genera
{{Malveae-stub