Malpighiaceae

Malpighia was named after Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), Professor at Bologna. Chiefly trees, shrubs or lianes, this tropical family is particularly common in Brazil. Leaves are simple, usually opposite and bear simple, branched ‘malpighian’ hairs. Flowers bisexual and showy, the 5 sepals usually have 2 glands at the base of each one, petals clawed at base, often somewhat crumpled in bud, one petal usually larger than the others. Stamens 10, filaments fused at base. Fruit dry or fleshy. Several species such as the Barbados Cherry and the Peanut Butter Fruit tree (Bunchosia) are edible; representatives of several other genera are cultivated as ornamentals.