Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. 5115 known species. Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees. Description The leaves of melastomes are somewhat distinctive, being opposite, decussate, and usually with 3-7 longitudinal veins arising either from the base of the blade, plinerved (inner veins diverging above base of blade), or pinnately nerved with three or more pairs of primary veins diverging from the mid-vein at successive points above the base. Flowers are perfect, and borne either singly or in terminal or axillary, paniculate cymes. Ecology A number of melastomes are regarded as invasive species once naturalized in tropical and subtropical environments outside their normal range. Examples are Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta), Pleroma semidecandrum and Miconia calvescens, but many other species are involved. Taxonomy Under the APG III system of classification, the seven genera from Memecylaceae are now included in this family. Genera There are some 175 accepted genera in the Melastomataceae family as of May 2022. They include: Acanthella Aciotis Acisanthera Adelobotrys Allomaieta Alloneuron Amphiblemma Amphorocalyx Anaectocalyx Anaheterotis Andesanthus Anerincleistus Antherotoma Appendicularia Argyrella Arthrostemma Aschistanthera Astrocalyx Astronia Astronidium Axinaea Barthea Beccarianthus Bellucia Bertolonia Bisglaziovia Blakea Blastus Boerlagea Boyania Brachyotum Brasilianthus Bredia Bucquetia Cailliella Calvoa Calycogonium Cambessedesia Castratella Catanthera Catocoryne Centradenia Centradeniastrum Centronia Chaetogastra Chaetolepis Chaetostoma Chalybea Charianthus Cincinnobotrys Clidemia Comolia Comoliopsis Conostegia Creochiton Cyphotheca Derosiphia Desmoscelis Dicellandra Dichaetanthera Dinophora Dionycha Dionychastrum Dissochaeta Dissotidendron Dissotis Driessenia Dupineta Eriocnema Ernestia Feliciadamia Fordiophyton Fritzschia Graffenrieda Gravesia Guyonia Henriettea Heteroblemma Heterocentron Heterotis Huberia Kendrickia Kerriothyrsus Kirkbridea Lavoisiera Leandra Lijndenia Lithobium Loricalepis Macairea Macrocentrum Macrolenes Maguireanthus Maieta Mallophyton Marcetia Mecranium Medinilla Melastoma †Melastomites Melastomastrum Memecylon Meriania Merianthera Miconia Microlicia Monochaetum Monolena Mouriri Neblinanthera Necramium Neodriessenia Nepsera Nerophila Noterophila {Wikispecies) Nothodissotis Ochthephilus Ochthocharis Opisthocentra Osbeckia Ossaea Oxyspora Pachyanthus Pachycentria Pachyloma Phainantha Phyllagathis Physeterostemon Pilocosta Plagiopetalum Pleiochiton Pleroma Plethiandra Poikilogyne Poilannammia Poteranthera Preussiella Pseudodissochaeta Pseudoernestia Pternandra Pterogastra Pterolepis Quipuanthus Rhexia Rhynchanthera Rostranthera Rousseauxia Sagraea Salpinga Sandemania Sarcopyramis Schwackaea Scorpiothyrsus Siphanthera Sonerila Spathandra Sporoxeia Stanmarkia Stenodon Stussenia Styrophyton Tashiroea Tateanthus Tessmannianthus Tetrazygia Tibouchina Tigridiopalma Tococa Trembleya Triolena Tristemma Tryssophyton Vietsenia Votomita Warneckea Wurdastom Foraging Melastomataceae is foraged by many stingless bees, especially by the species Melipona bicolor which gather pollen from this taxon of flowering plant. References External links PlantSystematics.org: Images of species, list of genera Myrtales families