Mallow Family: Malvaceae

This often showy, five-petaled flower has a distinctive arrangement of sexual parts with stamens fused around the pistil forming a fuzzy column at the center of the flower. The family includes hollyhock, hibiscus, malva, okra, swamp rose mallow, and cotton. Taxonomists include two subfamilies in Malvaceae, basswood trees and cacao trees, although their flowers do not have fused stamens.