Subfamilies, Tribes, Genera, & Species
Taxonomy (from the Greek τάξις, [taxis], for order, arrangement) is the branch of science concerned with the classification of organisms, systematically arranging them in a defined order. For additional information on this topic, see Botanical Latin.
The Malvaceae family presents many challenges for taxonomists. Opinions often differ as where to draw the lines between species, between genera, between tribes and between the subfamilies. This is not surprising —the Malvaceae family encompasses over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species! In terms of number of species, the largest genera include Hibiscus (~300 species), Sterculia (~250 species), Dombeya (~225 species), Pavonia (~200 species) and Sida (~200 species).
In recent years an expanded circumscription of the Malvaceae family has been created, which is composed of nine subfamilies. The relationships between these subfamilies are still obscure, and the subject of ongoing discussion. The traditional Malvaceae have been moved to Malvoideae, the subfamily that now approximately corresponds to that group.
Bombacoideae: (formerly Bombacaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~120 species).
Brownlowioideae: 8 genera, (~70 species).
Byttnerioideae: 26 genera, (~650 species).
Dombeyoideae: About 20 genera, (~380 species).
Grewioideae: 25 genera, (~770 species).
Helicteroideae: 8 to 12 genera, 10 to 90 species.
Sterculioideae: (formerly Sterculiaceae, in part), 12 genera, (~430 species).
Tilioideae: (formerly Tiliaceae, in part) 3 genera, (~50 species).
Malvoideae: (formerly Malvaceae), 78 genera, (~1,600 species). Temperate to tropical distribution. Subfamily Malvoideae now comprises the traditional Malvaceae and has consistently emerged as a very homogeneous, monophyletic group. In a recent treatment of Malvoideae, Bayer and Kutbitzki (2003) divide the subfamily into four tribes: Gossypieae, Hibisceae, Kydieae, and Malveae. The Malvoideae can be further ranked into the tribes listed below:
“So likewise in the person of Solomon the king, we see the gift or endowment of wisdom and learning, both in Solomon’s petition and in God’s assent thereunto, preferred before all other terrene and temporal felicity. By virtue of which grant or donative of God Solomon became enabled not only to write those excellent parables or aphorisms concerning divine and moral philosophy, but also to compile a natural history of all verdure, from the cedar upon the mountain to the moss upon the wall (which is but a rudiment between putrefaction and an herb), and also of all things that breathe or move. Nay, the same Solomon the king, although he excelled in the glory of treasure and magnificent buildings, of shipping and navigation, of service and attendance, of fame and renown, and the like, yet he maketh no claim to any of those glories, but only to the glory of inquisition of truth; for so he saith expressly, “The glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of a king is to find it out;” as if, according to the innocent play of children, the Divine Majesty took delight to hide His works, to the end to have them found out; and as if kings could not obtain a greater honour than to be God’s playfellows in that game; considering the great commandment of wits and means, whereby nothing needeth to be hidden from them.”
Sir Francis Bacon - The Advancement of Learning (1605).