| Melastomataceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pleroma semidecandrum, syn.Tibouchina semidecandra, at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Melastomataceae Juss.[2] |
| Type genus | |
| Melastoma | |
| Genera | |
See text. | |
Melastomataceae (/mɛləstoʊmɑːˈteɪsiˌaɪ,-siːˌiː/) is a family ofdicotyledonousflowering plants 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.[3][4] Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or smalltrees.
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The leaves of melastomes are somewhat distinctive, beingopposite,decussate, 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, paniculatecymes.
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A number of melastomes are regarded asinvasive species once naturalized in tropical and subtropical environments outside their normal range. Examples areKoster's curse (Clidemia hirta),Pleroma semidecandrum andMiconia calvescens, but many other species are involved.
Under theAPG III system of classification, the seven genera fromMemecylaceae are now included in this family.[2]
There are some 169 accepted genera in the Melastomataceae family as of July 2025. They are:[5]
Melastomataceae is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by the speciesMelipona bicolor which gather pollen from this taxon of flowering plant.[7][clarification needed]
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
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