Malpighia
(named after Marcello Malpighi, 1628-1694, an Italian naturalist and Professor at Bologna). ORD. Malpighiaceae. A genus containing about twenty species of stove evergreen small trees or shrubs, natives, principally, of tropical America. Flowers pink or white, axillary and terminal, fasciculate or corymbose, rarely solitary. Drupe fleshy. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, glabrous or tomentose, sometimes covered with stinging hairs, entire or spinose-toothed. The species thrive best in a compost of sandy peat and fibry loam. Propagated, during summer, by cuttings of nearly ripened young shoots, inserted with the leaves intact, under a bell glass, in bottom heat. All the species here described are South American.
M. angustifolia (narrow-leaved). fl. pale purple or pink; peduncles axillary, umbellate. July and August. fr. small, oval, furrowed, of a dark purple colour when ripe. l linear-lanceolate, acute, beset on both surfaces with decumbent stinging bristles. Branches smooth. h. 7ft. 1737. Shrub. (L. B. C. 321.) M. aquifolia (Holly-leaved). fl. pale blush or pink; peduncles axillary, solitary or twin, two-flowered. August. l. lanceolate, with spiny teeth, beset with decumbent stinging bristles beneath. Branches smooth. h. 7ft. 1759. Shrub.
M. coccifera (berry-bearing). fl. pale blush or pink; peduncles axillary, solitary, furnished with two small scales at their middle. June to August. l. obovate or roundish, with spiny teeth, smooth, shining. h. 2ft. 1733. A small bushy shrub, thickly beset with Box-like leaves.
M. glabra (glabrous). Barbados Cherry. fl. rose-coloured or bright purple; peduncles axillary, umbellate. March to September. fr. red, round and smooth, about the size and shape of a cherry, having one or more furrows on the outside, and containing a reddish pulp. l. ovate, quite entire, smooth, shining. h. 16ft. 1757. This tree is cultivated in all the West Indian Islands, and in many parts of the mainland of South America, for its fruits, which are esteemed there, but are much inferior to our cherries. (B. M. 813.) M. nitida (shining). fl. pink; peduncles umbellately racemose, axillary and terminal. March to July. l. lanceolate, acute, quite entire, smooth, shining. h. 10ft. 1733. A beautiful shrub.
M. punicifolia (Pomegranate-leaved). fl. rose, on axillary, one-flowered peduncles. July. fr. about the size and shape of a cherry, very succulent, and of a pleasant, rather acid, taste. l. ovate, quite entire, smooth. h. 8ft. 1690. A shrub having the appearance of the Pomegranate. M. urens (stinging). Cowhage, or Cow Itch Cherry. fl. pink or pale purple; peduncles one-flowered, aggregate, one-half shorter than the leaves; petals equal. June to October. fr. edible. l. oblong-ovate, clothed with decumbent bristles beneath, smooth above. Branches smooth. h. 3ft. to 6ft. 1737. Shrub.