Melastomataceae is a family of

dicotyledonous The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, t ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. 5115 known species. Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

Description

The leaves of melastomes are somewhat distinctive, being opposite,

decussate Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing (due to the shape of the Roman numeral for ten, an uppercase 'X' (), ). In Latin anatomical terms, the form is used, e.g. . Similarly, the anatomical term chiasma is named aft ...

, and usually with 3-7 longitudinal veins arising either from the base of the blade, plinerved (inner veins diverging above base of blade), or pinnately nerved with three or more pairs of primary veins diverging from the mid-vein at successive points above the base. Flowers are perfect, and borne either singly or in terminal or axillary, paniculate

cymes An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed on ...

Ecology

A number of melastomes are regarded as

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

once naturalized in tropical and subtropical environments outside their normal range. Examples are Koster's curse (''Clidemia hirta''), '' Pleroma semidecandrum'' and ''

Miconia calvescens ''Miconia calvescens'', the velvet tree, miconia, or bush currant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae. It is native to Mexico and Central and South America and it has become one of the world's most invasive species. M ...

'', but many other species are involved.

Taxonomy

Under the

APG III system The APG III system of flowering plant classification is the third version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). Published in 2009, it was superseded in 2016 by a fur ...

of classification, the seven genera from

Memecylaceae Memecylaceae A. P. de Candolle, DC. was a family (biology), family of flowering plants. The family included about 430 species of trees and shrubs in seven genus, genera. Memecylaceae are widespread in the tropics. The family has now been included ...

are now included in this family.

Genera

There are some 175 accepted genera in the Melastomataceae family as of May 2022. They include: *''

Acanthella ''Acanthella'' is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) ...

'' *''

Aciotis ''Aciotis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are about 13 species distributed from Mexico to Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest coun ...

'' *''

Acisanthera ''Acisanthera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. It contains 11 species and is found in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It was described by Patrick Browne in 1756. Distribution Many species in th ...

'' *''

Adelobotrys ''Adelobotrys'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera ...

'' *''

Allomaieta ''Allomaieta'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) compri ...

'' *''

Alloneuron ''Alloneuron'' is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. ...

'' *''

Amphiblemma ''Amphiblemma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 1 ...

'' *''

Amphorocalyx ''Amphorocalyx'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comp ...

'' *'' Anaectocalyx'' *'' Anaheterotis'' *''

Andesanthus ''Andesanthus'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae, native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. The genus was established in 2019 for some species formerly placed in '' Tibouchina''. Some specie ...

'' *'' Anerincleistus'' *'' Antherotoma'' *'' Appendicularia'' *''

Argyrella ''Argyrella'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) compris ...

'' *'' Arthrostemma'' *'' Aschistanthera'' *'' Astrocalyx'' *'' Astronia'' *''

Astronidium ''Astronidium'' is a genus of plants in family Melastomataceae. It contains the following species (but this list may be incomplete): * '' Astronidium degeneri'', A.C. Smith * '' Astronidium floribundum'', (Gillespie) A.C. Smith * '' Astronidium f ...

'' *'' Axinaea'' *'' Barthea'' *'' Beccarianthus'' *'' Bellucia'' *''

Bertolonia ''Bertolonia'' is a genus consisting of 14 species of pretty, dwarf, creeping, tender perennials, native to tropical South America. These herbaceous plants are grown for their colorful, velvety, ornamental foliages, vary from shimmery white with ...

'' *'' Bisglaziovia'' *''

Blakea ''Blakea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are about 189 species distributed from Mexico to Bolivia and the Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; n ...

'' *''

Blastus According to the Bible, Blastus was the chamberlain of Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:20), a mediator for the Sidonians and Tyrians, and was believed to be involved in the events that led to Herod's death. Biblical account According to Acts 12:20, Hero ...

'' *'' Boerlagea'' *'' Boyania'' *'' Brachyotum'' *'' Brasilianthus'' *'' Bredia'' *'' Bucquetia'' *'' Cailliella'' *'' Calvoa'' *''

Calycogonium ''Calycogonium'' (common name, angleflower) is a polyphyletic genus of about forty species in the family Melastomataceae, native to the Caribbean, particularly Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Cuba. The genus is a member of a clade characterized by caly ...

'' *'' Cambessedesia'' *'' Castratella'' *'' Catanthera'' *'' Catocoryne'' *''

Centradenia ''Centradenia'' is a genus of 4-5 species of tropical evergreen perennials or subshrubs, native to Central America and Mexico. Description ''Centradenia'' spp. branches are angled or winged and the stems are often colored. The leaves are lanceola ...

'' *''

Centradeniastrum ''Centradeniastrum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. Species: *'' Centradeniastrum album'' *'' Centradeniastrum roseum'' References {{Taxonbar, from= ...

'' *'' Centronia'' *'' Chaetogastra'' *''

Chaetolepis ''Chaetolepis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) compr ...

'' *'' Chaetostoma'' *'' Chalybea'' *''

Charianthus ''Charianthus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Windward Islands, Leeward Island french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent , image_name = , image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwi ...

'' *'' Cincinnobotrys'' *'' Clidemia'' *'' Comolia'' *'' Comoliopsis'' *'' Conostegia'' *'' Creochiton'' *'' Cyphotheca'' *'' Derosiphia'' *'' Desmoscelis'' *'' Dicellandra'' *'' Dichaetanthera'' *'' Dinophora'' *''

Dionycha The Dionycha are a clade of spiders (Araneomorphae:Entelegynae), characterized by the possession of two tarsal claws with tufts of hairs (setae) beside them, which produce strong adhesion, enabling some species to climb glass. The circumscriptio ...

'' *'' Dionychastrum'' *'' Dissochaeta'' *'' Dissotidendron'' *''

Dissotis ''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are about 49 accepted species (by Kew), which are distributed across most of Africa, except Northern Africa. Etymology The generic name is based on the Greek word , which me ...

'' *'' Driessenia'' *'' Dupineta'' *'' Eriocnema'' *'' Ernestia'' *'' Feliciadamia'' *'' Fordiophyton'' *'' Fritzschia'' *'' Graffenrieda'' *'' Gravesia'' *'' Guyonia'' *'' Henriettea'' *''

Heteroblemma ''Heteroblemma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Vietnam to Wester. Malesia, New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's s ...

'' *''

Heterocentron ''Heterocentron'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comp ...

'' *'' Heterotis'' *''

Huberia ''Huberia'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus contains two species endemic to New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses ...

'' *'' Kendrickia'' *'' Kerriothyrsus'' *'' Kirkbridea'' *'' Lavoisiera'' *''

Leandra ''Leandra'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. Species include: * ''Leandra pastazana'' Wurdack * ''Leandra subseriata ''Miconia subseriata'' is a species of plant in the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a famil ...

'' *''

Lijndenia ''Lijndenia'' is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae. The genus includes 13 species. Species include: * '' Lijndenia barteri'' K. Bremer * '' Lijndenia bequaertii'' (De Wild.) Borhidi * '' Lijndenia brenanii '' (A. Fern. & R. Fern.) J ...

'' *'' Lithobium'' *''

Loricalepis ''Loricalepis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropi ...

'' *'' Macairea'' *'' Macrocentrum'' *'' Macrolenes'' *'' Maguireanthus'' *''

Maieta ''Maieta'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising ...

'' *''

Mallophyton ''Mallophyton'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) compri ...

'' *'' Marcetia'' *'' Mecranium'' *''

Medinilla ''Medinilla'' is a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to tropical regions of the Old World from Africa (two species) east through Madagascar (about 70 species) and southern Asia to the western Pa ...

'' *''

Melastoma ''Melastoma'' is a genus in the family Melastomataceae. It has over 100 species distributed around Southeast Asia, India, north to Japan, south to Australia and the Pacific Islands. The number of species should probably be reduced according to s ...

'' *'' Melastomastrum'' *''

Memecylon ''Memecylon'' is a plant group in Melastomataceae. It consists of 350-400 species of small to medium-sized trees and shrubs occurring in the Old World tropics. ''Memecylon'' is a monophyletic group basal to the Melastomataceae clade. ''Memecylon ...

'' *''

Meriania ''Meriania'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are about 93 species distributed from Mexico to Brazil and the Antilles.Mendoza-Cifuentes, H., Alvear, M., & Almeda, F. (2014)Novelties in ''Meriania'' (Melastomatac ...

'' *'' Merianthera'' *''

Miconia ''Miconia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the glory bush family, Melastomataceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas. The species are mostly shrubs and small to medium-sized trees up to 15 m tall. The generic name ...

'' *'' Microlicia'' *'' Monochaetum'' *'' Monolena'' *'' Mouriri'' *'' Neblinanthera'' *'' Necramium'' *'' Neodriessenia'' *'' Nepsera'' *'' Nerophila'' *'' Noterophila'' {

Wikispecies Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aim is to create a comprehensive open content catalogue of all species; the project is directed at scientists, rather than at the general public. Jimmy Wales ...

) *'' Nothodissotis'' *'' Ochthephilus'' *'' Ochthocharis'' *'' Opisthocentra'' *''

Osbeckia ''Osbeckia'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It was named by Carl Linnaeus for the Swedish explorer and naturalist Pehr Osbeck (1723–1805). Distribution Osbeckias are native to Eastern Asia — China, Japan, Malaysia, In ...

'' *'' Ossaea'' *'' Oxyspora'' *'' Pachyanthus'' *'' Pachycentria'' *'' Pachyloma'' *'' Phainantha'' *'' Phyllagathis'' *'' Physeterostemon'' *'' Pilocosta'' *'' Plagiopetalum'' *'' Pleiochiton'' *''

Pleroma Pleroma ( grc-koi, πλήρωμα, literally "fullness") generally refers to the totality of divine powers. It is used in Christian theological contexts, especially in Gnosticism. The term also appears in the Epistle to the Colossians, which is tr ...

'' *'' Plethiandra'' *'' Poikilogyne'' *'' Poilannammia'' *'' Poteranthera'' *'' Preussiella'' *'' Pseudodissochaeta'' *''

Pseudoernestia ''Pseudoernestia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Southern Tropical America. Species: *''Pseudoernestia cordifolia'' *''Pseudoernestia glandulosa'' References

{{Taxonbar, fr ...

'' *'' Pternandra'' *'' Pterogastra'' *'' Pterolepis'' *'' Quipuanthus'' *''

Rhexia ''Rhexia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. ''Rhexia'' species are commonly called "meadow beauty" and 11 to 13 species of ''Rhexia'' have been recognized depending on different taxonomic treatments. Distribution ...

'' *'' Rhynchanthera'' *'' Rostranthera'' *''

Rousseauxia ''Rousseauxia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. It is native to Madagascar. The genus name of ''Rousseauxia'' is in honour of Louis Auguste Joseph Desrousseaux (1753–1838), a French botanist and pterido ...

'' *'' Sagraea'' *'' Salpinga'' *'' Sandemania'' *'' Sarcopyramis'' *'' Schwackaea'' *'' Scorpiothyrsus'' *'' Siphanthera'' *'' Sonerila'' *'' Spathandra'' *'' Sporoxeia'' *''

Stanmarkia ''Stanmarkia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. It is native to south-eastern Mexico and Guatemala. The genus name of ''Stanmarkia'' is in honour of 2 American botanists; Paul Carpenter Standley (1884–196 ...

'' *'' Stenodon'' *'' Stussenia'' *'' Styrophyton'' *'' Tashiroea'' *'' Tateanthus'' *''

Tessmannianthus ''Tessmannianthus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are seven species distributed in Central and South America. They are medium to large trees up to 40 meters tall. The flowers are heterantherous, bearing two t ...

'' *''

Tetrazygia ''Tetrazygia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. They are native to the Antilles, and one species also occurs in Florida in the United States. The circumscription of the genus has been debated, but in general, about 25 ...

'' *''

Tibouchina ''Tibouchina'' "Tibouchina." Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. Merriam Webster, 1961. is a Neotropical realm, neotropical flowering plant genus in the family Melastomataceae. Species of this genus a ...

'' *'' Tigridiopalma'' *''

Tococa ''Tococa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising ...

'' *''

Trembleya ''Microlicia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to northern South America, particularly Brazil. They tend to be subshrubs. Species Currently accepted species include: *''Microlicia agrestis'' Cogn. *''Microli ...

'' *'' Triolena'' *'' Tristemma'' *'' Tryssophyton'' *''

Vietsenia ''Vietsenia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southe ...

'' *'' Votomita'' *''

Warneckea ''Warneckea'' is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae. It contains the following species (but this list may be incomplete): * ''Warneckea cordiformis'' R. D. Stone * ''Warneckea memecyloides'' (Benth.) H.Jacques-Felix * ''Warneckea wildean ...

'' *'' Wurdastom''

Foraging

Melastomataceae is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by the species ''

Melipona bicolor ''Melipona bicolor'' , commonly known as Guaraipo or Guarupu, is a eusocial bee found primarily in South America. It is an inhabitant of the Araucaria Forest and the Atlantic Rainforest, and is most commonly found from South to East Brazil, B ...

'' which gather pollen from this taxon of flowering plant.Hilário, S. D., and V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca. "Pollen foraging in colonies of Melipona bicolor (Apidae, Meliponini): effects of season, colony size and queen number." Genetics and Molecular Research 8.2 (2009): 664-671.

References

External links

PlantSystematics.org: Images of species, list of genera
* {{Authority control Myrtales families