Melastomaceae
An order of erect herbs, shrubs, or trees, principally found in tropical America. Flowers variable in colour, showy, very rarely sweet-scented; inflorescence spicate, paniculate or corymbose, in a few cases solitary or fasciculate; calyx limb five, six, or three-partite, sometimes entire, imbricate, or contorted in the bud; petals free, or sometimes slightly united at the base, inserted on the calyx throat, on a fleshy annular layer, alternate with the calyx segments, shortly clawed, twisted in the bud. Leaves opposite or whorled, simple, equal or unequal, entire, rarely toothed, usually narrowed into a sometimes swollen petiole; stipules none. The order comprises about 134 genera, and 1800 species. Illustrative genera are: Bertolonia, Melastoma, Miconia, Pleroma, and Rhexia.