Lavatera

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iLavatera
Lavatera thuringiaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Lavatera L.
Species
See text

Lavatera is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, central and eastern Asia, and Australia. A number of species previously listed in this genus have now been transferred to the related genus Malva.

The genus includes annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants and soft-wooded shrubs, growing from 1-3 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, and palmately lobed. The flowers are conspicuous, 4-12 cm diameter, with five white, pink or red petals; they are produced in terminal clusters.

Lavatera species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix lavaterella, which feeds exclusively on the plant.

Species

Lavatera abyssinica Lavatera acerifolia Lavatera bryoniifolia Lavatera cachmeriana Lavatera insularis Lavatera lindsayi Lavatera maroccana Lavatera mauritanica Lavatera microphylla

Lavatera oblongifolia Lavatera olbia Lavatera phoenicea Lavatera punctata Lavatera stenopetala Lavatera thuringiaca Lavatera triloba Lavatera trimestris Lavatera vidali

[edit] External links and references

• Malvaceae Info: The Lavatera pages
• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Lavatera
• Flora Europaea: Lavatera