Melastomataceae

Dissotis Benth.

First published in Niger Fl.: 346 (1849)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical Africa.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or small trees, usually ± pilose, pubescent, lanate or tomentose, rarely completely glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or verticillate, generally petiolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 4–5(6)-merous, rarely solitary, more often in heads or in cymes, frequently paniculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle with various indumentum or rarely glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals persistent or caducous; intersepalar segments present, rarely 0.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals obovate, rose, mauve, purple or violet, rarely white or orange.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 8–10(12), very unequal, sometimes subequal (osbeckioid forms); anthers of the longer stamens lanceolate-subulate, rostrate, 1-porose, with introrse pore and undulate thecae, generally purple, with a long pedoconnective provided at the base with an anterior 2-lobed or 2-fid appendage like a spur, those of the shorter stamens usually yellow, shorter, with a short pedoconnective and smaller appendage.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 4–5-locular, adnate to the receptacle by 8–10(12) longitudinal septa, usually bristly at the top; style filiform, curved, slightly dilated towards the apex; stigma punctiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 4–5-valved, coriaceous, included in the receptacle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds minute, cochleate, very numerous.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, less often shrubs or small trees
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of terminal panicles, rarely the flowers solitary; flowers 4–5(–6)-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube campanulate to ovoid, glabrous or variously hairy, with or without pectinate scales; lobes persistent or caducous; intersepalar appendages often present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals purple or violet
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens usually markedly unequal, sometimes subequal in “osbeckioid” forms; connective long-produced at the base of the large stamens with 2-tuberculate, 2-lobed or 2-spurred appendage at the junction with the filament; connective scarcely produced in the short stamens with 2-tuberculate, 2-lobed or 2-spurred appendage
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 4–5-locular, adherent to the calyx-tube by 8–10 septa or partially free, apex setose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule enclosed by the calyx, coriaceous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, minute, cochleate.
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs with the young branches 4-gonous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 5-merous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts caducous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals tardily deciduous; intersepalar segments subulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals obovate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, equal; filaments straight; anthers oblong-lanceolate, straight, yellow, with rather undulate loculi and one extrorse pore; pedoconnective very short with two anterior divergent obtuse appendages and two posterior minute prominences at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 5-locular, adnate to the receptacle by 10 longitudinal septa; style filiform; stigma punctiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 5-valved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds cochleate, covered with rather elongate tubercles arranged in curved parallel lines.
[FZ]

Common Names

unknown
mayingying

Sources

  • EBC Common Names

    • Common Names from Kew's Economic Botany Collection https://www.kew.org/science/collections-and-resources/collections/economic-botany-collection

  • 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