Malvales lightness, and that of "Tilia" (lime, linden, or basswood) as a popular wood for carving. Fruit of the cacao tree ("Theobroma cacao") are used as an ingredient for chocolate. Kola nuts (genus "Cola") are notable for their high content of caffeine and, in past, were commonly used for preparing of various cola drinks. Other well-known members of Malvales in the APG II sense are daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab trees, cotton, and kapok. The morphology of Malvales is diverse, with few common characteristics. Among those most commonly encountered are palmate leaves, connate sepals, and a specific structure and chemical composition
Cabécar people are among the tallest trees often found in Cabécar tropical home gardens. Lower strata include permanent crops such as coffee ("Coffea arabica") and cacao ("Theobroma cacao"). The lowest stratum is characterized by medicinal plants, shrubs, and tubers, including chili pepper ("Capsicum annuum"), manioc ("Manihot esculenta"), and tiquisque ("Xanthosoma violaceum"). The Cabécar maintain their tropical home gardens by removing undesired underbrush to allow for growth of wild species that can also be harvested to supplement Cabécar everyday needs. Cabécar subsistence farmers practice rotating slash-and-burn agriculture for basic food requirements. This technique is employed during the driest month to clear dense underbrush