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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Bombacaceae
| image = bombax-flower-leaf.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Bombax flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = '''Bombacaceae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See text.
}}
The name '''Bombacaceae''' is a [[botanical name]] at the rank of family and, as is true for any botanical name, [[wiktionary:circumscription|circumscription]] and status of the taxon varies with taxonomic point of view. The family name is based on the genus ''Bombax''.
Recent phylogenetic research has shown that Bombacaceae as traditionally circumscribed (including [[Tribe (biology)|tribe]] Durioneae) is not a monophyletic group. Bombacaceae is not recognized by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] I 1998, II 2003 and [[Kubitzki system]] 2003 at the rank of family, the bulk of the taxa in question being treated as subfamily Bombacoideae within family [[Malvaceae]] ''sensu lato'' (see also [[Sterculiaceae]] and [[Tiliaceae]]). A close relationship between Bombacaceae and Malvaceae has long been recognized but until recently the families have been kept separate in most classification systems, and continue to be separated in many references, including the newest reference work in classification of [[flowering plants]]: Heywood ''et. al.'' 2007 <ref name = Heywood>{{cite book|author = Heywood, V. H., Brummitt, R. K., Culham, A. & Seberg, O. |title = Flowering Plant Families of the World|edition = | publisher = Firefly Books| year = 2007| location = Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada|isbn = 1-55407-206-9}}</ref>.
Heywood ''et. al.'' <ref name= Heywood /> say "although closely related to Malvaceae, molecular data supports their separation. Only pollen and habit seem to provide a morphological basis for the separation."
As circumscribed in its traditional sense, the family Bombacaceae includes around 30 genera (25 genera after Heywood ''et. al.'' <ref name= Heywood />) with about 250 species of tropical trees, some of considerable girth, so called "bottle trees". Many species grow to become large trees, with ''Ceiba pentandra'' the tallest, reaching a height to 70 m. Several of the genera are commercially important, producing timber, edible [[fruit]] or useful fibres. The family is noted for some of the softest hardwoods commercially traded, especially [[Balsa]], ''Ochroma lagopus''. The fruit of the [[Durian]], ''Durio zibethinus'' is famous, tasting better than it smells. At one time the fibre from the [[Kapok]] tree, ''Ceiba pentandra'' was used in making lifebuoys. The [[Baobab]]s or "Bottle trees" (''Adansonia'' spp.) are important icons in certain parts of [[Africa]], [[Australia]] and [[Madagascar]], noted for their immensely stout trunk development, a mechanism for enhancing [[water]] storage.
==Genera==
*''[[Adansonia]]'' L.
*''[[Aguiaria]]'' Ducke
*''[[Bernoullia]]'' Oliv.
*''[[Bombax]]'' L.
*''[[Catostemma]]'' Benth.
*''[[Cavanillesia]]'' Ruiz & Pav.
*''[[Ceiba]]'' Mill.
*''[[Chiranthodendron]]'' Larreat. (according to Kubitzki in subf. Bombacoideae <ref name = Kubitzki>Kubitzki, K. & Bayer, C., (2003).The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants Vol. 5: Malvales, Capparales and Non-betalain Caryophyllales </ref> and considered more closely related to ''Fremontodendron'' by Baum ''et al.'' 2004 <ref> Baum, D. A., DeWitt Smith, S., Yen, A., Alverson, W. S., Nyffeler, R., Whitlock, B. A. & Oldham, R. A. (2004). American Journal of Botany 91(11):1863-1871.</ref>)
*''[[Eriotheca]]'' Schott & Endl.
*''[[Fremontodendron]]'' Coville (according to Heywood ''et. al.'' <ref name= Heywood />)
*''[[Gyranthera]]'' Pittier
*''[[Huberodendron]]'' Ducke
*''[[Matisia]]'' Bonpl.
*''[[Neobuchia]]'' Urb.
*''[[Ochroma]]'' Sw.
*''[[Pachira]]'' Aubl.
*''[[Patinoa]]'' [[Cuatrec.]]
*''[[Pentaplaris]]'' L.O.Williams & Standl. (according to Kubitzki in subf. Bombacoideae, but ''incertae sedis'' <ref name= Kubitzki />)
*''[[Phragmotheca]]'' Cuatrec.
*''[[Pseudobombax]]'' Dugand
*''[[Quararibea]]'' Aubl.
*''[[Scleronema]]'' Benth.
*''[[Septotheca]]'' Ulbr.
*''[[Spirotheca]]'' Ulbr. (according to Heywood ''et. al.'' <ref name= Heywood />)
;Genera of tribe Durioneae excluded from Bombacaceae after Heywood ''et al.'' 2007 and that should be included in [[Durionaceae]] <ref name= Heywood />:
*''[[Boschia]]'' Korth.
*''[[Coelostegia]]'' Benth.
*''[[Cullenia]]'' Wight
*''[[Durio]]'' Adans.
*''[[Kostermansia]]'' Soegeng
*''[[Neesia]]'' Blume
;Genus that should be excluded from Bombacaceae after Heywood ''et al.'' 2007 and that be included in Malvaceae s. s. <ref name= Heywood />
*''[[Camptostemon]]'' Mast.
;Genera considered synonym after Kubitzki 2003 <ref name= Kubitzki />
*''[[Bombacopsis]]'' Pittier = Pachira Aubl.
*''[[Chorisia]]'' Kunth = Ceiba Mill.
*''[[Rhodognaphalon]]'' (Ulbr.) Roberty = Pachira Aubl.
;Genus not treated in Kubitzki <ref name= Kubitzki />
*''[[Lahia]]'' Hassk.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/bombacac.htm Bombacaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz] (1992 onwards) ''The families of flowering plants: descriptions''.
[[Category:Malvales]]
[[Category:Bombacaceae| ]]
[[Category:Plant families]]
[[category:Plant taxonomy]]