Floral Formula of Hibiscus
Hibiscus, commonly known as China rose, is an angiospermic genus belonging to the Malvaceae family, also recognized as the mallow family. This plant family is characterized by the presence of nearly 85 genera and approximately 1500 species, primarily distributed in tropical regions worldwide. In India, notable plant species from family malvaceae include Hibiscus, Malva, Gossypium, Sida, etc. Additionally, Hibiscus is widely cultivated, showcasing its popularity and adaptability as an ornamental plant in various climates.
1.0Taxonomic Classification Level of Hibiscus
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Sub class : Archichlamydeae
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Hibiscus
2.0Floral Formula of Hibiscus
A floral formula is a symbolic representation used by botanists to provide a concise and standardized description of the floral structure of a plant. It conveys information about the number, arrangement, and characteristics of floral parts. The floral formula of Hibiscus rosa sinensis (China rose flower) is as follows:
Symbols for Floral Formula of Hibiscus :
Floral diagram of Hibiscus rosa sinensis :
Systematic Position of Family Malvaceae :
3.0General Characteristics of Family Malvaceae
(Hibiscus/Cotton/Mallow family)
Habit: Primarily herbs, shrubs, and occasionally trees; annuals and perennials.
Representatives: 246 genera & 4225 species.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan and confined to tropics.
Figure- Herbs – Sida
Abutilon
Gossypium
Hibiscus
Thepesia
Kydia
Root: Branched, Taproot system.
Stem: Erect and branched, exhibiting herbaceous or woody characteristics. Often adorned with stellate hairs, and mucilage sacs are frequently present in the tissues.
Leaves: Simple and alternate, stipulate, featuring stellate hairs, and may be round or palmately.
Inflorescence: Primarily cymose type, occasionally racemose. It may manifest as a compound cyme or a solitary axillary or terminal.
Flowers: Bracteolate, arranged in an epicalyx, pedicellate, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, complete, and hypogynous and exhibiting pentamerous symmetry.
Epicalyx: 5-7 bracteoles constitute epicalyx situated below the calyx, They are transformed bracteoles.
Calyx: Consists of 5 sepals, gamosepalous, forming a sepaloid inferior calyx with valvate aestivation.
Corolla: Comprises 5 polypetalous petals, with an inferior arrangement and twisted aestivation.
Androecium: Indefinite stamens arranged on a staminal tube, monadelphous, and epipetalous. Anthers are one-celled and dorsifixed.
Gynoecium: Polycarpellary, with 5 to indefinite carpels forming a syncarpous ovary. The ovary is multilocular, containing one to many ovules in each locule, and exhibits superior ovary, axile placentation.
Fruit: May be a schizocarp or loculicidal capsule, sometimes fleshy berry.
Seed: Seeds are typically reniform or ovoid, featuring mucilaginous endosperm and a curved embryo. In some cases, seeds are covered with wooly hairs, as observed in Gossypium.
Pollination: Primarily entomophilous, relying on insects for pollination.
4.0Economic Importance of The Family Malvaceae
The Malvaceae family plays a crucial role in various economic sectors, contributing significantly to food, fibers, oils, medicine, and ornamental industries:
Food: Okra/Bhindi (Lady Finger): Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus is utilized as a vegetable.
Oils: Cotton Seeds: Gossypium seeds yield oil, which is hydrogenated to produce vegetable ghee.
Musk Seed Oil: Obtained from Hibiscus abelmoschus seeds, this volatile oil is used in perfumery.
Fibers: Surface Fibers: Derived from the seeds' surface, Gossypium (Cotton) is a key source.
Soft Fibers or Bast Fibers:
Patua (Rosella Hemp): Obtained from Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Patsan (Deccan Hemp): Derived from Hibiscus cannabinus.
5.0Uses of Plants Genus Hibiscus of Malvaceae
Food-The most important food crops are
Durian, the fruit of Durio zibethinus, which is an important plantation crop in South East Asia.
Okra, the fruit of Abelmoschus esculentus, which is used as a vegetable.
Cacao, the fruit of Theobroma cacao, which is the source of chocolate and cacao butter.
Several species, including Abelmoschus manihot and species of Corchorus and Malva, are grown as leaf vegetables.
Marshmallows were originally made from the candied roots of Althaea officinalis.
Fibres-The most important crop is cotton, which is obtained from the seed hairs of four species of Gossypium-
The Old World diploids Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium herbaceum.
The New World tetraploids Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense.
Cotton is the world's preeminent natural fibre, of which in excess of 20 million tonnes are produced annually. The largest producers are China, the United States of America, India and Pakistan.
Jute, obtained from the phloem fibres of Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius, is also an important fibre crop; with a production in excess of 2 million tonnes annually it is the second largest vegetable fibre.
Kenaf, obtained from the phloem fibres of Hibiscus cannabinus, has an annual production of about 1 million tonnes. Thailand, Burma, China and Bangladesh are the major producers.
Kapok, the seed hairs of a number of trees belonging to Bombacoideae, particularly Bombax ceiba (250,000 tonnes annually), is not spinnable and therefore can't be used for textiles, but is waterproof. It is used primarily for insulation.
Hibiscus cannabinus :- Seeds analgesic, leaves purgative - yields fibre stronger than jute.
Hibiscus mutabilis - Leaves & flowers expectorant, anodyne – used as ornamental plant.
Hibiscus rosa sinensis - Emmenagogue, laxative and flowers used in alopecia, burning sensation, diabetes, menstrual disorders, piles. Flowers also used in herbal shampoos and hair oils, attracts wide variety of insects and butterflies.
Hibiscus sabdariffa – Digestive, laxative, antiscorbutic- is grown for its Vitamin C rich calyx. The fleshy red calyx is used in the preparation of jams, jellies, and cold and warm teas and drinks.
Hibiscus schizopetalus (Dyer) – Ornamental plant.
Timber: Ochroma lagopus: Known as Balsa wood, it is esteemed for its lightness.
Malva sylvestris: Provides Mallow wood.
Medicine: Urena repanda: Roots are useful in hydrophobia treatment.
Ornamental: China Rose (Shoeflower): Hibiscus rosasinensis produces red shoe polish from its petals.
Hollyhock (Gul-e-Khera): Althaea rosea, yielding a blue color from its leaves, adds ornamental value.
Vitamins:
Gossypium Seeds: Rich in vitamins A, D, E, and B-complex.
Table of Contents
- 1.0Taxonomic Classification Level of Hibiscus
- 2.0Floral Formula of Hibiscus
- 3.0General Characteristics of Family Malvaceae
- 4.0Economic Importance of The Family Malvaceae
- 5.0Uses of Plants Genus Hibiscus of Malvaceae
Frequently Asked Questions
The placentation in Malvaceae is axile, meaning that when septa are present, they divide the ovary into two or more locules. The ovules are attached along the central axis, specifically in the inner angle formed by the septa.
The Malvaceae family is a diverse plant family known for its economic significance. It includes plants with various uses, such as food, fibers, oils, medicines, and ornamentals.
Some notable plants in the Malvaceae family include cotton (Gossypium), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.), and others.
The plants of this family are herbs or shrubs, usually with stellate hairs. Leaves are alternate, palmately nerved, often palmately lobed or divided, with stipulate. Flowers are hermaphrodite and actinomorphic. Epicalyx mostly is present. Calyx consists of 5 sepals, the sepals sometimes united below. Corolla consists of 5 petals, which are free, contorted/twisted in aestivation and fused at the base with the staminal tube. Stamens united into a column around the styles, the column divided into filaments at the apex.
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