MELASTOMATACEAE

Current Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Tree

for Flowering Plants2008

magnoliids

monocots

MYRTALES- Melastomataceae

Tibouchina - the best-known ornamental

MELASTOMATACEAE•opposite leaves •2 pair basal secondaries•ladder tertiaries•staminodes or stamen appendages•stamens 2x petals•hypanthium/inferior ovary

MELASTOMATACEAE:arcuate basal secondaries, -- including a marginal veinperpendicular tertiaries

Miconia calvescens, introduced to Hawaii

Monochaetum

Mouriri and Memecylon

Mouriri

Memecylon

Pollen sacs white, connective tissue and appendages shaded

Origin of poricidal stamens and appendages in melastomes

Beccarianthus

Memecylon

Melastoma

Buzz pollination of Melastomataceae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMvQSx2429U

Miconia

Miconia

Brachyotum

Blakea

Clidemia hirta, Koster’s Curse

Coster's curse growing densely under a young albizia plantation, Hawaii Island, Hawaii