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Synonyms: Memecylaceae DC.; Mouririaceae Gardner
Common name: Melastoma Family.
Number of genera 188. Number of species 4750.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium; simple; berry, or capsule, or drupe (Mouriri but not Spjut); ceratium capsule, or loculicidal capsule, or septifragal capsule; capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; berry indehiscent, or dehiscent (irregular in Astronia); berry without central placental mass; without persistent central column, or with persistent central column; with styles(s); at apex; within accessory organ(s), or not within accessory organ(s); within calyx, or hypanthium (for berry); with hypanthium berries (Almeda (1989): "following fertilization a single ovule develops and the result is a fruit consisting of one to five suglobose lobes attached to the old hypanthium, each lobe separate from the other. Such a bizarre structure may in fact have the effect of increasing the dispersal of the seeds"); with hypanthium wall distinct from fruit wall (& persistent or crumbling & leaving irregular circular rim); 1-seeded to many-seeded; 1-seeded (-many); less than 1 cm long to from 1–5 cm long (at least); 0.2–10 cm long; (2–)5(–15)-carpellate (really (2-)3–5(-15)); with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; with carpels not radiating at maturity; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete; apex not beaked; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent passively (assumed); and shedding seeds; without replum. Epicarp brown (all shades), or black, or purple, or white, or red, or pink, or orange, or green; durable; glabrous (without hairs), or not glabrous (with hairs); hairs medium length; hairs dense; hairs not glandular; without armature, or with armature; with spines; without armature glochidiate; smooth, or not smooth; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent, or present; very or more or less fleshy; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp present, or absent; not separating from exocarp; thin, or leathery; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth; without wing; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent, or present (Amphiblemma, Calvoa, Gravesia, Veprecella); a true aril, or an arillike structure (perhaps 2 is only answer - see raphe). Arillike structure falling with seed an arillode. Seed minute to larger than minute; less than 1 mm long to 1 to less than 5 mm long; 0.3–8 mm long; reniform, or irregular, or ovate, or oblong, or circular, or triangular, or cochleate (scobiform (Huberia)); not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity without food reserves, or with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without markedly different marginal tissue; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight, or loose; dull, or shiny (or apically shiny & basally dull); surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with depressed features, or discreet raised features, or merged raised features; surface pitted, or punctate, or grooved; surface echinate (barbed), or papillate, or tuberculate, or verrucose; surface roughened, or ribbed (& complex), or wrinkled (& caryophyll-like); without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle, or with crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other, or with notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approaching each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings, or with wing(s) (margined Castanella); without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades), or white, or black, or purple; crustaceous; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding embryo. Hilum larger than punctate; basal (but size not known). Raphe conspicuous; spongy arilloid tissue (succulent & reddish-brown); as long as seed; included in dehisced fruit. Endosperm development nuclear.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; completely filling testa (no food reserve); chamber central to wings; 1 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; straight, or bent, or arcuate, or J-shaped; parallel to seed length; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; with cotyledons containing oils; without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed; 0.2–0.4 times length of embryo; as wide as hypocotyl-radicle, or somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle; not concealing hypocotyl-radicle; not foliaceous, or foliaceous; flat, or convoluted, or crumpled; smooth; with apices entire; with margins connate, or adhering; basally entire; equal in size, or unequal in size; more or less unequal, or markedly unequal (in irregularly shaped seeds); not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle vestigial, or small; straight; not thickened, or much thickened; in pocket formed by testa therefore mostly separate from cotyledons.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Study fruits in Morley (1976). Spjut quoted Morley (1976) "Berry: Moiriri, Votomita, berries calyx and hypanthium may persist… or may crumble way … leaving an irregular circular rim".
Weed information
1 or more USA Federal noxious weeds, 1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA Federal noxious weeds: -- Melastoma malabathricum L.: USA Federal Noxious Weed●; USA state noxious weed: FL●, MA●, NC●. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Florida (FL), Hawaii (HI), Massachusetts (MA), North Carolina (NC).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Medinilla venosa (Blume) Blume: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Melastoma malabathricum L.: USA Federal Noxious Weed●; USA state noxious weed: FL●, MA●, NC●. -- Melastoma spp.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Miconia spp.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Oxyspora paniculata (D. Don) DC.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Tibouchina spp.: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don -- Medinilla venosa Blume -- Melastoma malabathricum L. -- Oxyspora paniculata (D. Don) DC. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Donw -- Melastoma malabathricum L.w -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Acanthella Hook. f. -- Aciotis D. Don -- Acisanthera P. Browne -- Adelobotrys DC. -- Allomaieta Gleason -- Allomorphia Blume -- Alloneuron Pilg. -- Amphiblemma Naudin -- Amphorocalyx Baker -- Anaectocalyx Triana ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Anerincleistus Korth. -- Antherotoma Hook. f. -- Appendicularia DC. -- Arthrostemma Pav. ex D. Don -- Aschistanthera C. Hansen -- Astrocalyx Merr. -- Astronia Blume -- Astronidium A. Gray, nom. cons. -- Axinaea Ruiz & Pav. -- Barthea Hook. f. -- Beccarianthus Cogn. -- Behuria Cham. -- Bellucia Neck. ex Raf., nom. cons. -- Benevidesia Saldanha & Cogn. -- Bertolonia Raddi, nom. cons. -- Bisglaziovia Cogn. -- Blakea P. Browne -- Blastus Lour. -- Boerlagea Cogn. -- Boyania Wurdack -- Brachyotum (DC.) Triana -- Bredia Blume -- Brittenia Cogn. -- Bucquetia DC. -- Cailliella Jacq.-Fél. -- Calvoa Hook. f. -- Calycogonium DC. -- Cambessedesia DC., nom. cons. -- Campimia Ridl. -- Carionia Naudin -- Castratella Naudin -- Catanthera F. Muell. -- Catocoryne Hook. f. -- Centradenia G. Don -- Centradeniastrum Cogn. -- Centronia D. Don -- Chaetolepis (DC.) Miq. -- Chaetostoma DC. -- Chalybea Naudin -- Charianthus D. Don -- Cincinnobotrys Gilg -- Clidemia D. Don -- Comolia DC. -- Comoliopsis Wurdack -- Conostegia D. Don -- Creochiton Blume -- Cyanandrium Stapf -- Cyphostyla Gleason -- Cyphotheca Diels -- Dalenia Korth. -- Desmoscelis Naudin -- Dicellandra Hook. f. -- Dichaetanthera Endl. -- Dinophora Benth. -- Dionycha Naudin -- Dionychastrum A. Fern. & R. Fern. -- Diplarpea Triana -- Diplectria (Blume) Rchb. -- Dissochaeta Blume -- Dissotis Benth., nom. cons. -- Dolichoura Brade -- Driessenia Korth. -- Enaulophyton Steenis -- Eriocnema Naudin -- Ernestia DC. -- Feliciadamia Bullock -- Fordiophyton Stapf -- Fritzschia Cham. -- Graffenrieda DC. -- Gravesia Naudin -- Guyonia Naudin -- Henriettea DC. -- Henriettella Naudin -- Heterocentron Hook. & Arn. -- Heterotis Benth. -- Heterotrichum DC. -- Huberia DC. -- Huilaea Wurdack -- Hypenanthe (Blume) Blume -- Kendrickia Hook. f. -- Kerriothyrsus C. Hansen -- Killipia Gleason -- Kirkbridea Wurdack -- Lavoisiera DC. -- Leandra Raddi -- Lijndenia Zoll. & Moritzi -- Lithobium Bong. -- Llewelynia Pittier -- Loreya DC. -- Loricalepis Brade -- Macairea DC. -- Macrocentrum Hook. f. -- Macrolenes Naudin -- Maguireanthus Wurdack -- Maieta Aubl. -- Mallophyton Wurdack -- Marcetia DC. -- Mecranium Hook. f. -- Medinilla Gaudich. -- Melastoma L. -- Melastomastrum Naudin -- Memecylon L. -- Meriania Sw., nom. cons. -- Merianthera Kuhlm. -- Miconia Ruiz & Pav., nom. cons. -- Microlepis (DC.) Miq., nom. cons. -- Microlicia D. Don -- Mommsenia Urb. & Ekman -- Monochaetum (DC.) Naudin, nom. cons. -- Monolena Triana -- Mouriri Aubl. -- Myriaspora DC. -- Myrmidone Mart. -- Neblinanthera Wurdack -- Necramium Britton -- Neodriessenia M. P. Nayar -- Nepsera Naudin -- Nerophila Naudin -- Ochthephilus Wurdack -- Ochthocharis Blume -- Omphalopus Naudin -- Opisthocentra Hook. f. -- Oritrephes Ridl. -- Osbeckia L. -- Ossaea DC. -- Otanthera Blume -- Oxyspora DC. -- Pachyanthus A. Rich. -- Pachycentria Blume -- Pachyloma DC. -- Phainantha Gleason -- Phyllagathis Blume -- Pilocosta Almeda & Whiffin -- Plagiopetalum Rehder -- Pleiochiton Naudin ex A. Gray -- Plethiandra Hook. f. -- Pogonanthera Blume -- Poikilogyne Baker f. -- Poilannammia C. Hansen -- Poteranthera Bong. -- Preussiella Gilg -- Pseudodissochaeta M. P. Nayar -- Pseudosbeckia A. Fern. & R. Fern. -- Pternandra Jack -- Pterogastra Naudin -- Pterolepis (DC.) Miq., nom. cons. -- Rhexia L. -- Rhynchanthera DC., nom. cons. -- Rousseauxia DC. -- Salpinga Mart. ex DC. -- Sandemania Gleason -- Sarcopyramis Wall. -- Schwackaea Cogn. -- Scorpiothyrsus H. L. Li -- Siphanthera Pohl ex DC. -- Sonerila Roxb., nom. cons. -- Spathandra Guill. & Perr. -- Sporoxeia W. W. Sm. -- Stenodon Naudin -- Stussenia C. Hansen -- Svitramia Cham. -- Tateanthus Gleason -- Tayloriophyton M. P. Nayar -- Tessmannianthus Markgr. -- Tetrazygia Rich. ex DC. -- Tibouchina Aubl. -- Tibouchinopsis Markgr. -- Tigridiopalma C. Chen -- Tococa Aubl. -- Topobea Aubl. -- Trembleya DC. -- Triolena Naudin -- Tristemma Juss. -- Tryssophyton Wurdack -- Tylanthera C. Hansen -- Vietsenia C. Hansen -- Votomita Aubl. -- Warneckea Gilg
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 649. Whiffin, T. & A.S. Tombs. 1972. The systematic significance of seed morphology in the neotropical capsular-fruited Memecyleae. Amer. J. Bot. 59(4):411–422; Baumgratz, J.F.A. 1983–5. Morfologia dos frutos e sementes de melastomatáceas brasileiras. Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 27:113–155; Morley, T. 1976. Memecyleae (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 15:1–295; Almeda, F. 1989. Five new berry-fruited species of tropical American Melastomataceae. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 46:137–150.
General references
Baillon, H.E. 1866–95. Histoire des plantes, 13 vols. Hachette and Co., Paris, Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Flora Neotropica. 1968–74. Nos. 1–14. Hafner Publishing Company, Darien and 1976-. Nos. 15-present. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx [monograph number], Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gray, A. 1848. Genera florae Americae boreali-orientalis illustrata, 2 vols. James Munroe and Co., Boston., Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. and J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Roosmalen, M.G.M. van. 1985. Fruits of the Guianan flora, 483 pp. Institute of Systematic Botany, Wageningen Agricultural University. Drukkerij Veenman B.V., Wageningen, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Poor fruit and acceptable seed illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or seed, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Almeda (1989), Baillon, Roosmalen, Wood, Jr., Cronquist, LeMaout & Decaisne, Baumgratz (1983–5). Seed illustration(s): Almeda (1989), Baillon, Wood, Jr., LeMaout & Decaisne, Baumgratz (1983–5), Gunn & Ritchie, Whiffin & Tomb (1972). Embryo illustration(s): Baillon, Gunn & Ritchie, Corner.
• Fruit. 1 of 23. Bellucia imperialis Saldanha & Cogn.: fruit. • Seed. 2 of 23. Bellucia imperialis Saldanha & Cogn.: seeds. • Fruit. 3 of 23. Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don: fruit. • Seed. 4 of 23. Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don: seeds. • Fruit. 5 of 23. Conostegia macrantha Berg ex Triana: fruits. • Seed. 6 of 23. Conostegia macrantha Berg ex Triana: seeds. • Fruit. 7 of 23. Heterocentron elegans (Schltdl.) Kuntze: fruit. • Seed. 8 of 23. Heterocentron elegans (Schltdl.) Kuntze: seeds. • Fruit. 9 of 23. Medinilla sp.: fruit. • Seed. 10 of 23. Medinilla sp.: seeds. • Fruit. 11 of 23. Melastoma sanguineum Sims: fruit. • Seed. 12 of 23. Melastoma sanguineum Sims: seed cluster. • Seed. 13 of 23. Melastoma sanguineum Sims: seeds. • Fruit. 14 of 23. Miconia flavescens Cogn.: dehisced fruit. • Seed. 15 of 23. Miconia flavescens Cogn.: seeds. • Fruit. 16 of 23. Mouriri pusa Gardner: fruit. • Seed. 17 of 23. Mouriri pusa Gardner: seed. • Fruit. 18 of 23. Oxyspora exigua (Jack) J. F. Maxwell: fruit. • Seed. 19 of 23. Oxyspora exigua (Jack) J. F. Maxwell: seeds. • Fruit. 20 of 23. Tibouchina clavata (Pers.) Wurdack: fruit. • Seed. 21 of 23. Tibouchina clavata (Pers.) Wurdack: seeds. • Embryo. 22 of 23. Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don: embryo. • Embryo. 23 of 23. Melastoma malabathricum L.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
