“ZAMONAVIY BIOLOGIYANING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI VA
RIVOJLANISH ISTIQBOLLARI”
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TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE ORDER MALVALES IN THE FLORA OF
CENTRAL ASIA
Razzaqova Oyshaxon Baxtiyor qizi
The Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
E-mail: oyshaxonrazzaqova@gmail.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15597149
Abstract:
This study provides a comprehensive taxonomic overview of the order
Malvales in the flora of Central Asia. It identifies two primary families—Malvaceae and
Thymelaeaceae-represented by approximately 14 genera and 44 species. The research highlights their
distribution across diverse ecological zones, from arid lowlands to mountainous regions, emphasizing
their ecological adaptability and floristic significance. Special focus is placed on both widespread
pioneer taxa such as Malva and Althaea, and ecologically restricted genera like Daphne. The
economic, medicinal, and ecological importance of several species is discussed, along with their role
in anthropogenically influenced and relictual habitats. This work contributes to the floristic and
biogeographic understanding of the region and supports ongoing conservation and digital biodiversity
initiatives.
Key words:
Malvales, flora of Central Asia, taxonomy, Malvaceae, Thymelaeaceae,
geography, range, endemism
Аннотация
:
Настоящее
исследование
представляет
собой
всесторонний
таксономический
обзор
порядка
Malvales
во
флоре
Средней
Азии
.
Выделены
две
основные
семейства
— Malvaceae
и
Thymelaeaceae,
представленные
приблизительно
14
родами
и
44
видами
.
В
работе
освещается
распространение
этих
растений
в
различных
экологических
зонах
—
от
засушливых
равнин
до
горных
районов
,
с
акцентом
на
их
экологическую
пластичность
и
флористическую
значимость
.
Особое
внимание
уделено
как
широко
распространённым
пионерным
таксонам
,
таким
как
Malva
и
Althaea,
так
и
экологически
ограниченным
родам
,
например
Daphne.
Рассматривается
экономическое
,
лекарственное
и
экологическое
значение
ряда
видов
,
а
также
их
роль
в
антропогенно
изменённых
и
реликтовых
местообитаниях
.
Данное
исследование
вносит
вклад
в
флористическое
и
биогеографическое
понимание
региона
и
поддерживает
современные
инициативы
по
охране
природы
и
цифровой
регистрации
биоразнообразия
.
Ключевые
слова
:
Malvales,
флора
Средней
Азии
,
таксономия
, Malvaceae,
Thymelaeaceae,
география
,
ареал
,
эндемизм
Annotatsiya:
Ushbu tadqiqot Markaziy Osiyo florasida Malvales tartibining har tomonlama
taksonomik sharhini taqdim etadi. Tadqiqot davomida ikkita asosiy oila — Malvaceae va
Thymelaeaceae aniqlanib, ular taxminan 14 turkum va 44 tur bilan ifodalangan. Ushbu
o‘simliklarning ekologik zonalar bo‘ylab — quruq pasttekisliklardan tortib tog‘li hududlargacha —
tarqalishi ko‘rib chiqilgan bo‘lib, ularning ekologik moslashuvchanligi va floristik ahamiyatiga urg‘u
beriladi. Diqqat markazida
Malva
va
Althaea
kabi keng tarqalgan poyoniyer taksonlar, shuningdek,
Daphne
kabi ekologik cheklangan turkumlar turadi. Ba’zi turlarining iqtisodiy, dorivor va ekologik
ahamiyati, shuningdek, antropogen ta’sirga uchragan va relikt yashash joylaridagi roli tahlil qilingan.
Ushbu ish mintaqaning floristik va biogeografik o‘rganilishiga hissa qo‘shadi hamda saqlash va
raqamli biologik xilma-xillik tashabbuslarini qo‘llab-quvvatlaydi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
Malvales, O‘rta Osiyo florasi, taksonomiya, Malvaceae, Thymelaeaceae,
geografiya, areal, endemizm
Introduction.
The flora of Central Asia is one of the most significant in Central Eurasia due
to the number of endemic, relict, and specialized species [1]. A combination of arid climatic
conditions, diverse landscapes (from deserts to high mountains), and biogeographic isolation has led
to its high uniqueness. The order Malvales holds an important position in the system of angiosperms.
“ZAMONAVIY BIOLOGIYANING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI VA
RIVOJLANISH ISTIQBOLLARI”
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It includes species of medicinal, ornamental, and agricultural value, many of which are drought-
resistant and adapted to extreme environmental conditions [2]. Despite a relatively low number of
species in Central Asia, representatives of Malvales play a notable role in the vegetation, particularly
in lowland and foothill ecosystems.
The aim of this study is to conduct a taxonomic analysis of Malvales species, determine the
composition of families, genera, and species, and reveal the characteristics of their geographic
distribution, ranges, and bioecological traits.
Material and methods.
The taxonomic composition of Malvales in the flora of Central Asia
was determined based on the following sources: Plants of the World Online (POWO) [3], World Flora
Online (WFO) [4], GBIF, regional floristic accounts such as Flora of the USSR [5], Conspectus
Florae Asiaticae Mediae, Flora Iranica [6], and recent scientific publications on plant systematics and
biogeography [7, 8]. Only wild-growing and naturalized species were included. Species identification
was conducted according to the latest taxonomic frameworks (APG IV). Geographic distribution was
analyzed using published range data, GBIF mapping, and personal field observations.
Results.
In the flora of Central Asia, the order Malvales is represented by two families:
·
Malvaceae
— the most widespread family, comprising approximately 9 genera,
including
Malva
,
Althaea
,
Hibiscus
,
Abutilon
,
Alcea
,
Anoda
,
Corchorus
,
Malope
, and
Tilia
;
·
Thymelaeaceae
— less diverse, represented by 5 genera:
Daphne
,
Diarthron
,
Stelleropsis
,
Restella
, and
Thymelaea
.
In total, about 14 genera and approximately 44 species occur within these families in Central
Asia. Some genera contain multiple species, while others are represented by a single species.
Examples of species from Malvaceae:
·
Malva neglecta
Wallr.
·
Malva sylvestris
L.
·
Althaea armeniaca
Ten.
·
Althaea officinalis
L.
·
Hibiscus trionum
L.
Examples of species from Thymelaeaceae:
·
Daphne altaica
Pall.
·
Daphne mezereum
L.
·
Diarthron ammodendron
(Kar. & Kir.) W.Jun Li & Tojibaev
·
Stelleropsis altaica
(Thiéb.-Bern.) Pobed.
·
Thymelaea passerina
(L.) Coss. & Germ.
Discussion.
The floristic role of Malvales in Central Asia lies not in high species richness, but
in their ecological plasticity and functional adaptability. Species from the genera
Malva
,
Althaea
, and
Hibiscus
are widespread in floodplains, oases, steppe regions, and along irrigation canals. These
plants demonstrate notable resistance to drought, salinity, and soil disturbance [9], which allows them
to thrive under a wide range of environmental conditions and serve as pioneer species in degraded or
modified habitats. The highest species diversity is observed in the valleys of the Amu Darya,
Zeravshan, and Syr Darya rivers, as well as in the foothills of the western Tien Shan, the southern
slopes of the Pamir-Alai, and western Turkmenistan. These regions offer diverse microclimates and
soil types, supporting both widespread and narrowly adapted taxa. In contrast, genera such as
Daphne
and
Wikstroemia
are more ecologically restricted, often confined to mountain slopes and rocky dry
habitats. Some of their species, like
Daphne oleoides
, may represent relict elements [10], reflecting
historical vegetation and long-term ecological stability in isolated mountain zones. Several Malvales
species have significant economic and ethnobotanical value.
Althaea officinalis
, for example, is
widely used in traditional medicine for its mucilage-rich roots and leaves that possess soothing and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Malva sylvestris
and
Malva neglecta
are not only medicinal but also consumed as leafy
vegetables in some rural areas of Central Asia. Among the introduced species,
Gossypium hirsutum
and
Hibiscus syriacus
are of economic importance, particularly
G. hirsutum
, which forms the basis
“ZAMONAVIY BIOLOGIYANING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI VA
RIVOJLANISH ISTIQBOLLARI”
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adu.uz
universaljurnal.uz
280
of the cotton industry in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Although these species do not actively
participate in natural vegetation, they are agronomically and economically vital, and their occasional
escape into semi-natural habitats warrants attention in regional floristic assessments. Malvales in
Central Asia demonstrate a dual ecological role, as resilient colonizers of disturbed and arid areas and
as ecological indicators of stable or relict habitats in mountainous terrain. Their presence reflects both
natural adaptability and anthropogenic influence, making them a valuable group for ecological
monitoring, sustainable use, and conservation planning.
Conslusion.
The order Malvales is moderately represented in the flora of Central Asia,
comprising 2 families, about 14 genera, and approximately 44 species. Despite its relatively low
species richness compared to other orders, the group demonstrates high ecological adaptability, with
species occupying diverse habitats ranging from desert plains and floodplains to mountain slopes and
semi-arid foothills. The family Malvaceae plays a key role in the floristic structure of
anthropogenically altered and arid landscapes. In contrast, members of Thymelaeaceae, though less
widespread, provide insights into relictual vegetation and ecological stability in mountainous areas.
The coexistence of widespread pioneer species and narrowly distributed ecological specialists
highlights the ecological and biogeographic complexity of the region’s flora.
Given the ethnobotanical importance, adaptive traits, and conservation value of Malvales
species, further integrated studies are necessary. Future research should focus on:
·
Population genetics to assess intraspecific diversity and resilience to environmental
change;
·
Ecological modeling to predict range shifts under climate change scenarios;
·
Conservation assessments for rare and potentially endangered species such as
Wikstroemia
canescens
. Additionally, the documentation of traditional uses and local knowledge can support
sustainable use and cultural preservation efforts. Malvales species are significant components of the
Central Asian flora and warrant further attention from both taxonomic and ecological perspectives.
As part of the state program "Digital Nature" (2025–2029), the Flora Laboratory of Uzbekistan at the
Institute of Botany is conducting scientific research under the project titled "Development of a new
map of botanical-geographic zoning of Central Asia and systematic grid-based mapping of plant
diversity." This work supports ongoing floristic and taxonomic studies in the region.
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