Learn about the comparison among Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae.
Comparison # Malvaceae:
1. Plants-Herbs, shrubs and trees.
2. Leaves-Simple, palmately compound (Bombax).
3. Flowers-Regular, bisexual, epicalyx present.
4. Calyx-Sepals 5, united.
5. Corolla-Petals 5, free, twisted.
6. Androecium-Stamens α, monadelphous, epipetalous; anther : celled.
7. Gynoecium-Carpels (1 – α), usually (5), ovary 1 α chamtered with 1 or more ovules in each chamber.
8. Fruit-Capsule or schizocarpic (carcerulus).
9. Seeds-Endosperm scanty.
10. Embyro-Cotyledons folded
Comparison # Sterculiaceae:
1. Plants-Usually trees or shrubs, very few herbs.
2. Leaves-Simple or palmately compound.
3. Flowers-Regular or irregular, bisexual; no epicalyx.
4. Calyx-Sepals 5, free or united.
5. Corolla-Petals 5, reduced in size very often, sometimes absent, twisted.
6. Androecium-Stamens α or few in two horls, outer staminodes or absent, inner fertile, anther 2-celled.
7. Gynoecium-Carpels (2 – 5), ovary 5-celled with 2-α ovules in each chamber. Ovary 1 – α-chambered with 1 or more ovules in each chamber.
8. Fruit-Capsule or schizocarpic.
9. Seeds-Endosperm fleshy.
10. Embyro-Cotyledons fleshy or folded.
Comparison # Tiliaceae:
1. Plants-Usually trees or shrubs, very few herbs.
2. Leaves-Simple with entire or dentate margin.
3. Flowers-Regular, bi-or unisexual, no epicalyx.
4. Calyx-Sepals 4-5, free or united.
5. Corolla-Petals 5, or fewer or absent, imbricate.
6. Androecium-Stamens α, free or united at the base, inserted at the base of the petals or raised on andro-gynophore. anther 2-celled.
7. Gynoecium-Carpels (2-5), ovary 2-5-called with 1 or more ovules in each chamber.
8. Fruit-Capsule or usually schizocarpic, splitting.
9. Seeds-Endosperm fleshy.
10. Embyro-Cotyledons large or leafy.