Melastomataceae () is a family of dicotyledonous

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

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, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

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.

Ecology

A number of melastomes are regarded as

invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...

once naturalized in tropical and subtropical environments outside their normal range. Examples are Koster's curse (''Clidemia hirta''), '' Pleroma semidecandrum'' and '' Miconia calvescens'', but many other species are involved.

Taxonomy

Under the APG III system of classification, the seven genera from Memecylaceae are now included in this family.

Genera

There are some 167 accepted genera in the Melastomataceae family as of October 2023. They are: *'' Acanthella'' *'' Aciotis'' *'' Acisanthera'' *'' Adelobotrys'' *'' Allomaieta'' *'' Alloneuron'' *'' Almedanthus'' *'' Amphiblemma'' *'' Amphorocalyx'' *'' Anaheterotis'' *'' Andesanthus'' *'' Anerincleistus'' *'' Antherotoma'' *'' Appendicularia'' *'' Argyrella'' *''

Arthrostemma ''Arthrostemma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Mexico to Tropical America. Species: *''Arthrostemma alatum'' *''Arthrostemma ciliatum'' *''Arthrostemma cubense'' *''Arthrostemma ...

'' *'' Aschistanthera'' *''

Astrocalyx ''Astrocalyx'' 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) com ...

'' *'' Astronia'' *'' Astronidium'' *''

Axinaea ''Axinaea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. As of 2012, there are at least 42 species.Bussmann, R. W., & Zambrana, N. P. (2012)''Axinaea ninakurorum'' (Melastomataceae)− a new species from the northern Peruvian Mer ...

'' *'' Bamlera'' *'' Barthea'' *'' Beccarianthus'' *'' Bellucia'' *'' Benna'' *'' Bertolonia'' *'' Bisglaziovia'' *'' Blakea'' *'' Blastus'' *'' Boerlagea'' *'' Bourdaria'' *'' Boyania'' *'' Brachyotum'' *'' Brasilianthus'' *'' Bredia'' *'' Bucquetia'' *'' Cailliella'' *'' Calvoa'' *'' Cambessedesia'' *'' Castratella'' *'' Catanthera'' *'' Centradenia'' *'' Centradeniastrum'' *'' Centronia'' *'' Chaetogastra'' *'' Chaetolepis'' *'' Chalybea'' *'' Cincinnobotrys'' *'' Comolia'' *'' Comoliopsis'' *'' Creochiton'' *'' Cyphotheca'' *'' Dalenia'' *'' Derosiphia'' *'' Desmoscelis'' *'' Dicellandra'' *'' Dichaetanthera'' *'' Dinophora'' *'' Dionycha'' *'' Dionychastrum'' *'' Dissochaeta'' *'' Dissotidendron'' *''

Dissotis ''Dissotis'' is a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. It includes nine species of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees which are native to tropical Africa. Etymology The generic name is based on the Greek word , which mea ...

'' *'' Driessenia'' *'' Dupineta'' *'' Eleotis'' *'' Eriocnema'' *'' Ernestia'' *'' Feliciadamia'' *'' Feliciotis'' *''

Fordiophyton ''Fordiophyton'' are a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to Vietnam and southern China. Species Species currently accepted by The Plant List are as follows: *''Fordiophyton brevicaule'' C. Chen *''Fordiophyton brev ...

'' *'' Fritzschia'' *'' Graffenrieda'' *'' Gravesia'' *'' Guyonia'' *'' Henriettea'' *'' Heteroblemma'' *'' Heterocentron'' *'' Heterotis'' *'' Huberia'' *'' Kendrickia'' *'' Kerriothyrsus'' *'' Kirkbridea'' *'' Lijndenia'' *'' Lithobium'' *'' Loricalepis'' *'' Macairea'' *'' Macrocentrum'' *'' Macrolenes'' *'' Maguireanthus'' *'' Mallophyton'' *'' Marcetia'' *'' Medinilla'' *'' Melastoma'' *†'' Melastomites'' *'' Melastomastrum'' *'' Memecylon'' *'' Meriania'' *''

Merianthera ''Merianthera'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Its native range is Eastern Brazil. Species Species: *''Merianthera bullata'' *''Merianthera burlemarxii'' *''Merianthera calyptrata'' *''Merianthera eb ...

'' *'' Miconia'' *'' Microlicia'' *'' Monochaetum'' *'' Monolena'' *'' Mouriri'' *'' Neblinanthera'' *'' Neodriessenia'' *'' Nepsera'' *'' Nerophila'' *'' Noterophila'' Mart. *'' Nothodissotis'' *'' Ochthephilus'' *'' Ochthocharis'' *'' Opisthocentra'' *'' Osbeckia'' *'' Ossaea'' *'' Oxyspora'' *'' Pachycentria'' *'' Pachyloma'' *'' Phainantha'' *'' Phyllagathis'' *'' Physeterostemon'' *'' Pilocosta'' *'' Plagiopetalum'' *''

Pleroma Pleroma (, literally "fullness") generally refers to the totality of divine powers. It is used in Christian theological contexts, as well as in Gnosticism. The term also appears in the Epistle to the Colossians, which is traditionally attributed ...

'' *'' Plethiandra'' *'' Poikilogyne'' *'' Poilannammia'' *'' Poteranthera'' *'' Preussiella'' *'' Pseudodissochaeta'' *'' Pseudoernestia'' *'' Pternandra'' *'' Pterogastra'' *'' Pterolepis'' *'' Pyrotis'' *'' Quipuanthus'' *'' Rhexia'' *'' Rhynchanthera'' *'' Rosettea'' *'' Rostranthera'' *'' Rousseauxia'' *'' Salpinga'' *'' Sandemania'' *'' Sarcopyramis'' *'' Schwackaea'' *'' Scorpiothyrsus'' *'' Siphanthera'' *'' Sonerila'' *'' Spathandra'' *'' Sporoxeia'' *'' Stanmarkia'' *'' Stussenia'' *'' Styrophyton'' *'' Tashiroea'' *''

Tateanthus ''Tateanthus'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. It only contains one known species, ''Tateanthus duidae'' It is native to northern Brazil and Venezuela. The genus name of ''Tateanthus'' is in hon ...

'' *'' Tessmannianthus'' *'' Tibouchina'' *'' Tigridiopalma'' *'' Triolena'' *'' Tristemma'' *'' Tryssophyton'' *'' Vietsenia'' *'' Votomita'' *'' Warneckea'' *'' 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 Eusociality, eusocial bee found primarily in South America. It is an inhabitant of the Araucaria moist forests, Araucaria Forest and the Atlantic Rainforest, and is most commonly ...

'' 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