A flowering plant belonging to the family Malvaceae, comprising herbs, subshrubs, and a few trees and lianas distributed widely throughout tropical and temperate regions. There are 243 genera with 4225 species, and the family includes cotton (Gossypium species), cacao (Theobroma cacao), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and durian (Durio species). Some are cultivated for ornament and some have medicinal uses.