XVI International Botanical Congess

The family Malvaceae is represented in Southern Peninsular India by 19 genera and 78 species (including seven infra specific taxa). Among them, 11 species are introduced and 8 species are endemic. The largest genera of this family in this region (and their respective number of species) are Hibiscus (19), Sida (17), Abutilon (7), Abelmoschus (6) and Thespesia (4). The following genera, Decaschistia, Gossypium, Julostylis, Malva and Pavonia have three species each. The genus Urena with two species and the remaining eight genera with single species, among them one (Modiola) is monotypic. Five tribes are recognized as occurring in Southern Peninsular India. The tribal placement of genera, and diagrammatic representation of the diagnostic features of the five tribes are also provided.