Melastomataceae

Tristemma Juss.

First published in Gen. Pl.: 329 (1789)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical Africa, Comoros, Madagascar.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, with sharply 4-angular or -winged stems and branches.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, opposite.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 5-merous, sessile or subsessile, in terminal heads surrounded by leaves and leafy bracts; inner bracts coriaceous, chaffy or membranous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle ovoid or ovoid-oblong, glabrous or densely setose on the upper half or with 1–6 rings of bristles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals persistent, ± reflexed, ciliate at the margin; intersepalar segments 0.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals mauve, pink or blue-violet, rarely white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, subequal; anthers lanceolate, all similar, yellow; pedoconnective short with an anterior 2-lobed or 2-fid appendage at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 5-locular, adnate to the receptacle all around to above the middle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 5-valved, with fleshy placentas, usually splitting irregularly.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, cochleate.
[FZ]

Melastomataceae, G. E. Wickens. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1975

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or woody herbs, erect or prostrate
Morphology Leaves
Leaves entire, 5–7-nerved, petiolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence terminal, 1–3– or many-flowered; flowers 5-merous, sessile, usually enclosed by several large persistent bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube tubular or campanulate, usually with 1 or more rings of bristles, rarely glabrous; lobes persistent, reflexed; intersepalar appendages absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens equal or subequal; anthers narrowly oblong to linear-subulate; connective not or only shortly produced below the anther, with 2 small anterior appendages
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary mostly adherent to the calyx-tube, 5-locular, apex usually setose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds cochleate.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0