As part of a study of post-fire regeneration of native vegetation in montane areas near Falda del Carmen (Sierras Chicas, Córdoba, Argentina), we analyzed the aerial seed bank to help identify the species present in soil samples. Among families with greater diversity and abundance in the study area, the Malvaceae are represented by 14 species belonging to the genera: Abutilon, Gaya, Krapovickasia, Malvastrum, Pavonia, Pseudabutilon, Sida and Sphaeralcea. Two dichotomous keys are presented to differentiate the species using the morphological characters of diaspores, mericarps and seeds, respectively, accompanied by descriptions and illustrations of the structures examined. These keys take into account mericarp morphology (shape, size, dorsal and lateral surface, dehiscence, cusps, pubescence, internal divisions, number of seeds per mericarp) and seed morphology (size, shape, surface, pubescence, hilum).
Malvaceae; diaspore; dichotomous key; seed bank; post-fire area
