Members: 200 genera; 4500 species.
Region: tropical; South America.
BotanyHerbs, shrubs or small trees.
Stem: grouped vessels in wood.
Leaves: simple; exstipulate; opposite, decussate; distinctive 3 to 7 longitudinal veins#.
Inflorescence: singly or in terminal or axillary, paniculate cymes.
Flowers: perfect; pollen with well-developed poreless furrows; nectaries lacking; andoecium basilateral; stamens zygomorphic, appendaged.
TaxonomyMelastomataceae is an Order in
Myrtales the
Apg3 classification.
In the
Plant theory it is treated in the same way and placed in
Subphase 3. At first
Melastomataceae was placed in
Subphase 5 on botanical grounds. But the provings of
Clidemia capitellata and
Miconia papillosa showed a strong quality of
Boron.