Malpighia family
Description
A family of shrubs, small trees and climbers, occurring in the tropics, mainly in South America (Malpighiaceae 1).
The leaves are simple and opposite, glandular below or on the leafstalk. The flowers are borne in a raceme and are either regular or irregular, with 5 sepals and 5 petals, both overlapping. There are 10 stamens and a superior ovary. The fruit is usually a fleshy or woody drupe.
There are about 60 genera.
Use
The family yields a few edible tropical fruits.
Described species
Malpighia glabra, Barbados cherry