Muntingiaceae

Muntingia, named after Abraham Munting (1626-1683) who was Professor of Botany at Gröningen, Holland. Shrubs or small trees, leaves alternate, simple, base oblique, margins serrate. Flowers supra-axillary, solitary or in small clusters, 5-merous, regular; petals usually crumpled in bud, stamens numerous. Carpels 5, ovary appearing inferior as it is embedded in the receptacle; fruit a berry with numerous seeds.