The Malvacea Part 1

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized

Jun 16

Written By Peter Morris

Malvacea

INTRODUCTION

Diagram of hibiscus flower

The mallow family (Hibiscus genus being my favorite!) contains over 243 genera and at least 4,225 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees. Representatives occur in all except the coldest parts of the world but are most numerous in the tropics.Many of the species are economically important, including cotton, cacao, linden, durian, hibiscus, okra and not to forget Marsh mallow - from where we got marshmallow flavor!They all have a calyx with five petals. Numerous stamens are present in the flower, and the multi carpellary ovary is superior. Translations : 5 petals, 5 carpels (holds the seeds), a pistil with numerous stamens, and the ovary sits on top of the calyx (the green whorl surrounding the base of the flower.In this 3 part series we will look at some of these Genus groups in more detail.

PART 1

Genus Abelmoschus

Abelmoschus esculentus – Okra

Lovers of Gumbo rejoice! Easy to grow from seed and takes very little space in a garden. Not to mention all those pretty yellow flowers !

Genus Athaea

A. officinalis - marsh mallow

The traditional medicinal uses of the plant are reflected in the name of the genus, which comes from the Greek althainein, meaning "to heal".Tender young leaves and flowers can be eaten, and are often added to salads or are boiled and fried. Roots and stems also secrete mucilage, which is used to soften the skin, and is used in cosmetic treatments. Egyptian's have been using it since antiquity in a honey-sweetened confection useful in the treatment of sore throat.Ancient Egyptians were also the first to enjoy a gooey treat now called marshmallow as early as 2000 BC. A confection that was considered very special and was reserved for gods and royalty. It was made from the sap of the plant that grew wild in marshes.The later French version of the recipe, called "pâte de guimauve" included an egg white meringue and was often flavored with rose water. It more closely resembles contemporary commercially available marshmallows, which BTW no longer contain any actual marshmallow !In the Middle East, the root's emulsifying property is still used for cleaning Persian carpets. Regarded as the best method to preserve the vibrancy of vegetable dyes used in coloring the carpet's wool.

Genus Althea

Althea rosea - Hollyhock

Hollyhock ! It was imported into Europe from southwestern China during, or possibly before, the 15th century.A biennial (having a two-year life cycle). It frequently self-sows, which may create a perception that the plants are perennial. If sown early, the plant may flower during its first year. Growing in a wide range of soils, they can easily reach a height of 8 ft.

Giant double White hollyhocks !

Genus Chorisia

Ceiba speciosa

Formerly called Chorisia speciosa. The “floss silk tree” seeds yield a vegetable silk used in upholstery. The natural habitat of the floss silk tree is in the northeast of Argentina, east of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.Very resistant to drought and moderate cold. It has an odd bottle shaped trunk which is covered in nasty looking thorns !

A trunk that evolved to keep tree climbers off !

Ceiba pentandra

Kapok tree - Woolly seeds produced by the seed pods native to Mexico, Central America and the Greater Antilles ( Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico).The tree and the cotton-like fluff obtained from its seed pods are commonly known in English as "kapok". Actually a Malay-derived name which originally applied to another tree called Bombax ceiba, a native of tropical Asia.

Open seed pods with fluff

Bombax ceiba

Hairs from the Bombax ovary wall from genera yield the fiber "kapok". The white fluffy fibers are carded into thread and woven into textiles in Nepal and India. In North India, the fibers are also used in pillows.In Thailand, the dry cores of the Bombax ceiba flower are an essential ingredient of the "nam ngiao" spicy noodle soup of the cuisine of Shan State and Northern Thailand.Its traditional Chinese name - 木棉花 - literally meaning cotton-tree flowers in Cantonese. It is the official flower of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China.Flowering season takes places from late February to early May. Fruiting can start as early as March. At the peak of its flowering season, elderly people may often be seen gathering the fallen flowers from the ground to dry, which they later use to prepare tea or soup.

Stay tuned for next weeks' Part 2 of the Malvacea......

In the meantime -

Our Design Team can create a Marvelous Malvacean Garden for you !

Call us - let's talk dreams !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

The Malvacea Part 1

Malvacea