A revision of the genus Pavonia Cav. (Malvaceae) in the Flora of southern Africa (FSA) region

Abstract Pavonia is the only genus of the tribe Malvaviscae in the FSA region and is distinguished by the style branches and stigmas being twice as many as the carpels. In this revision, 12 species are recognised, four of which are endemic to the FSA region (P. dentata, P. dregei, P. praemorsa and P. transvaalensis) with P. dregei being classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN red list. The new subspecies, Pavonia elegans subsp. stellata is described and P. gossweileri is taken into synonymy with P. rehmannii. In the present revision, a combination of leaf, epicalyx, calyx and mericarp characters are used to distinguish the species of Pavonia. We include correct nomenclature, typification, descriptions, geographical distributions, and a key to the species.