Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Myrtales

Melastomataceae - Tibouchina family

Fernandes, R. & A. (1978) Melastomataceae Flora Zambesiaca 4

Description of the family

Trees, shrubs or herbs. Stems square. Stipules 0. Leaves opposite or sometimes whorled, simple, typically with 3-7 prominent sunken veins. Flowers in cymes, bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic as regards the stamens, (3-)4-5(-6)-merous. Sepals present, intersepalar segments also present. Petals as many as sepals. Ovary inferior, 2-many-locular. Style 1. Fruit a many-seeded capsule.

Worldwide: 188 genera and 4,950 species, tropical and warm areas, especially South America.

Zimbabwe: 3 cultivated genera and 3 cultivated taxa.

Links to cultivated genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Heterocentron Hook. & Arn.	Description
Medinilla Gaudich.	Description, Image
Tibouchina Aubl.	Description

Other sources of information about Melastomataceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Melastomataceae
Flora of Burundi: Melastomataceae
Flora of Caprivi: Melastomataceae
Flora of the DRC: Melastomataceae
Flora of Malawi: Melastomataceae
Flora of Mozambique: Melastomataceae
Flora of Rwanda: Melastomataceae
Flora of Zambia: Melastomataceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Melastomataceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Melastomataceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Melastomataceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Melastomataceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Melastomataceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Melastomataceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Melastomataceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Melastomataceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Melastomataceae
Wikipedia: Melastomataceae
Plants of the World Online: Melastomataceae
Tropicos: Melastomataceae