Malvaceous \Mal*va"ceous\, a. [L. malvaceus, from malva mallows. See {Mallow}.] (Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a natural family of plants ({Malvace[ae]}), of which the mallow is the type. The cotton plant, hollyhock, and abutilon are of this family. It was formerly classified as an order, and included the baobab and the silk-cotton trees. The baobab and silk-cotton trees are now placed in the family {Bombacaceae}, which is included with the {Malvaceae} in the order {Malvales}. [1913 Webster +PJC]