The objective of this work was to characterize morphologically the dispersal units (mericarp) of the weed species of Malva parviflora L. Malvastrum americanum Torr., Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke, Sida glaziovii K. Schum., Sida linif olia Cav., in order to allow a clear taxonomical diffe rentiation among them, as well as to make a description of thei r seedlings. Two taxonomical keys are presented in order to help the identification of the dispersal units and the seedlings, as well as morphological descriptions of the Malvaceae family and a more detailed description of the meric arps and the seedl ings of each studied species.
dispersal units; mericarps; seedlings of Malceae; identification of weed seeds