Malpighiaceae Juss.

Malpighiaceae, E. Launert (British Museum (Natural History)). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Mostly woody climbers, sometimes shrubs or small trees, with unicellular appressed (sometimes fork-shaped) medifixed ± stiff hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, ternate or alternate, simple and entire, often with glands near the base of the lamina or on the petiole; stipules present or absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal or axillary, usually many-flowered and racemose (or more rarely flowers solitary); bracts and bracteoles present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic, bisexual (in African genera)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, free or connate at the base, persistent, often with glands outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, frequently clawed, free, imbricate, entire or with fringed or dentate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 10, with those of the outer series opposite the petals; filaments often connate at the base; anthers dehiscing longitudinally, introrse, basifixed or dorsifixed, 2-thecous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, syncarpous, 3(rarely 2, 4, or 5)-locular and -lobed, with 1 pendulous axile ovule in each locule; styles as many as the carpels with usually entire stigmas

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a schizocarp, usually winged (samara), rarely a fleshy drupe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with a large usually straight embryo, without endosperm

Malpighiaceae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Mostly woody climbers, sometimes shrubs or small trees, with unicellular appressed (sometimes V-shaped) medifixed ± stiff hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, ternate or alternate, simple and entire, often with glands near the base of the lamina or on the petiole; stipules present or absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal or axillary, usually many-flowered and racemose (or more rarely flowers solitary); bracts and bracteoles present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic, bisexual (in African genera)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, free or connate at the base, persistent, often with dorsal glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, frequently unguiculate, free, imbricate, entire or with fringed or dentate margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 10, obdiplostemonous, with filaments often connate at the base; anthers dehiscing longitudinally, introrse, basifixed or dorsifixed, 2-thecous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, syncarpous, 3 (rarely 2, 4, or 5) -locular and -lobed, with 1 pendulous axile ovule in each loculus; styles as many as the carpels, with usually entire stigmas

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a schizocarp, usually winged (samara), rarely a fleshy drupe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with a large usually straight embryo, without endosperm

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Mostly trees or shrubs, often scandent, the pubescence most often of ‘malpighiaceous’ hairs, i.e. hairs attached at or near the middle, thus 2-armed or flattened T-shaped; these hairs in some species stiff and sharp, easily detached, and very irritating to the skin; leaves usually opposite and simple, often glandular either on the petiole, near the midrib, or on the leaf-margins; stipules present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mostly perfect and regular, in axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, rarely solitary; calyx 5-lobed, often bearing large, sessile glands; petals 5, usually concave, narrowed below into a claw

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5 or 10, the filaments more or less united at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, of 3 free carpels or these more or less united into a 3-celled ovary with 1 ovule in each cell; styles 3, free or united into a single style with 3-lobed stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe containing one 3-celled stone or 1–3 separate 1-celled stones, or else a capsule or samara.

Distribution

A pantropical family of perhaps 60 genera and about 850 species, best represented in the American tropics.

Note

Several S. American species of this family are known to contain alkaloids with hallucinogenic properties.

Malpighiaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or climbers, usually clothed with appressed medifixed hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or rarely alternate, simple; a pair of glands often present at the base of the blade; stipules present or absent, sometimes connate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mostly hermaphrodite, actinomorphic

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, imbricate or rarely valvate, often biglandular outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, clawed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Disk small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 10, hypogynous; filaments free or connate at the base; anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Carpels usually 3, free or connate into a 3-celled ovary; cells 1-ovuled; styles usually separate and spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruiting carpels mostly winged or carpels connate into a fleshy or woody drupe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds without endosperm and with straight, curved or uncinate, rarely circinate embryo

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

Trees, treelets, shrubs, stem twisting lianas and climbers and occasionally herbs sprouting from a woody rootstock, plants with T-shaped and stellate trichomes and a variety of indumenta

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, with stipules, these fused in some genera and becoming intrapetiolar stipules, leaves often whorled distribution at the end of stems (savana trees and shrubs); leaf- blade entire, with large multicellular glands at the leaf-base or petiole

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences variable, from axillary fasicles to terminal racemes or panicles, often showy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 5- merous, hermaphrodite, subtly to strongly zygomorphic, calyx with 5 distinct sepals generally bearing two (rarely one) extra-floral nectaries, sometimes nectary missing from one sepal or completely (Galphimia L.); petals 5, free, aestivation imbricate, unguiculate at base, often with frilly edges, one larger 'flag' petal white, pink, magenta, yellow or orange, sometimes changing colour during anthesis; anthers 10; ovary superior, 3-locular, stigmas 3, separate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit schizocarp with winged mericarps or drupaceous, sometimes fleshy and edible.

Diagnostic

Notable genera and distinguishing features: The proportion between climbers and trees and shrubs in the family is 50:50. Byrsonima, Bunchosia and Malpighia emarginata are trees and shrubs with fleshy, edible fruits, they often have intrapetiolar stipules. The majority of climbing species have schizocarpic fruits (Tetrapterys, Banisteropsis, Mascagnia, Pteropterys). Galphimia lacks the typical glands on the outside of the sepals. A key for all Malpighiaceae genera can be found in the website of the Michigan Herbarium (http://herbarium.lsa.umich.edu/malpigh/Intro/Keys1.html). Extra-floral nectaries onthe outside of the sepals (two per sepal in 4 or 5 sepals, sometimes missing). Leaves always simple, sometimes lobed or cordate, margin entire (never serrate/dentate/crenate). Tree genera sometimes with intrapetiolar stipules. Climbing genera often have schizocarpic, winged fruits. Distinguishing characters (always present): T-shaped trichomes at least on petioles and young pubescent growth. Unguiculate petals arranged in rounded, often nodding flowerbuds. Ovary with three separate stigmas. Opposite or whorled stipulate leaves. Large multicellular glands on petiole or blade, usually abaxially. Key differences from similar families: T-shaped trichomes and glands over sepals and at leaf bases set them apart from other climbers with opposite leaves (Combretaceae, Celastraceae). Glands over sepals and dialypetalous corolla sets them apart from Verbenaceae, Lamiaceae, Rubiaceae and other simple, opposite leaved Asteridae. Five petals and five sepals differentiate them from Vochysiaceae which often have similar leaves.

Distribution

Native in the Neotropics, with Malpighia glabra (Barbados cherry, acerola) from the Caribbean cultivated widely worldwide for its vitamin C rich fruits, and Malpighia coccigera (Singapore holly) cultivated in SE Asia and S China as ornamental. Exclusively Tropical and Subtropical, the majority of Malpighiaceae occurs in the Neotropics (90% of species). Currently with 75 genera and over 1260 species. Acmanthera (A. Juss) Griseb.: 7 spp. Brazil Adelphia W.R. Anderson: 4 spp. Jamaica, Central America and western South America Aenigmatanthera W.R. Anderson: 2 spp. Brazil and Bolivia Alicia W.R. Anderson: 2 spp. South America Amorimia W.R. Anderson: 10 spp., Colombia to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Aspicarpa Rich.: 10 spp. Americas Banisteriopsis C.B. Rob.: 61 spp. Barnebya W.R. Anderson & B. Gates:  2 spp. Brazil Blepharandra Griseb.: 6 spp. Guyana, Venezuela and Amazonian Brazil. Bronwenia  W.R. Anderson: 10 spp. South America to Mexico Bunchosia H.B.K.: 75 spp. From Mexico and Carribean to South Brazil and Argentina Burdachia A. Juss.: 2-3 spp. Guyana, Amazonian Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Peru. Byrsonima  H.B.K.: about 135 spp. from Southern Mexico and Caribbean to southeastern Brazil. Calcicola  W.R. Anderson & C. Davis: 2 spp. Mexico Callaeum Small: 11 spp. Western Texas to South America. Camarea  A. St.-Hil.: 9 spp. Brazil Carolus  W. R. Anderson: 6 spp. Mexico, Central America, Lesser Antilles and South America Christianella  W.R. Anderson: 5 spp. Mexico to South America Coelostachys  A. Juss.: 1 sp. French Guiana and Brazil Cordobia Nied.: 1 sp. Argentina Cottsia Dubard & Dop: 3 spp. Mexico & USA. Diacidia Griseb.: 11 spp. Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia Dicella Griseb.: 7 spp. South America Dinemagonum  A. Juss.: 1 sp. Chile Dinemandra A. Juss.: 1 sp. Chile Diplopterys A. Juss.: 31 spp. Echinopterys A. Juss.: 2 spp. Mexico Ectopopterys W.R. Anderson: 1 sp. Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Excentradenia W.R. Anderson: 4 spp. Northern South America Gallardoa Hicken: 1 sp. Argentina Galphimia Cav.: 26 spp. South and North America Gaudichaudia Kunth: 21 spp. Mexico, Central America and northern South America Glandonia Griseb.: 3 spp. Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil Heladena A. Juss.: 1 sp. Southern Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina Henleophytum H. Karst.: 1 sp. Cuba Heteropterys H.B.K.: more than 140 spp. Neotropics and subtropics, 1 sp. from West Africa Hiraea Jacq.: 55 spp. Western Mexico to Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil Janusia A. Juss.: 14 spp. Americas Jubelina A. Juss.: 6 spp. Central America and northern South America Lophanthera A. Juss.: 5 spp. Costa Rica and Amazonian South America Lophopterys A. Juss.: 7 spp. South America Malpighia L.: More than 50 spp. North America, South America, Caribbean Malpighiodes Nied.: 4 spp. Northen South America Mascagnia (Bertero ex DC.) Colla: 45 spp. Mexico to northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil, and Caribbean Mcvaughia W. R. Anderson: 2 spp. Brazil Mezia Nied. 10 spp.: South America and Panama Mionandra Griseb.: 1 sp. Argentina Niedenzuella W.R. Anderson: 16 spp. South America Peixotoa A. Juss.: 29 spp. southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Peregrina W.R. Anderson: 1 sp. Brazil Psychopterys W.R. Anderson & S. Corso: 8 spp. Southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Pterandra A. Juss.: 15 spp. Neotropics. Ptilochaeta Turcz.: 4 spp. South America Spachea A. Juss.: 6 spp. Cuba, southern Central America and northern South America Stigmaphyllon A. Juss.: 93 spp. throughout Neotropics, 1 sp. in West Africa Tetrapterys Cav.: 65 spp. Neotropics Thryallis Mart.: 5 spp. Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia Tricomaria Hook. & Arn.: 1 spp. western Argentina Verrucularia A. Juss.; 2 spp. Brazil

Note

Apart from cultivated Malpighia species (see above), and the Amazonian treeLophantera lactescens (Brazilian gold-shower tree), the family comprises numerous shrubs, trees and climbers with ornamental potential. Most of the consumption of Byrsonima spp. fruits, known as 'murici' in Brazil, is harvested from nature. The centre of diversity of Malpighiaceae is South America, N of the Tropic of Capricorn (Anderson 2004). Malpighiaceae flowers are attractive to oil-collecting bees, that are ecologically closely associated to this plant family. The distinctive, mostly paired glands that occupy four or five of the sepals secret oil, and the stalked, or unguiculate, petals provide easy access to the bees to the oil-glands (Gentry 1993). Notes on delimitation: Malpighiaceae is grouped together with Euphorbiaceae, Passifloraceae and Salicaceae under Order Malpighiales within the APG III system. Cronquist (1981) had placed this family under the Subclass Rosidae, in Order Polygalales.