Malpighia

Malpighia is a genus of about 45 species of shrubs or small trees in the family Malpighiaceae, native to the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. The species grow to 1-6 m tall, with a dense, often thorny crown. The leaves are evergreen, simple, 0.5-15 cm long, with an entire or serrated margin. The flowers are solitary or in umbels of two to several together, each flower 1-2 cm diameter, with five white, pink, red, or purple petals. The fruit is a red, orange or purple drupe, containing 2-3 hard seeds. It is sweet and juicy, and very rich in vitamin C.


Selected species
Malpighia glabra - Acerola (Malpighia glabra) or Acerolla, also known as Barbados cherry or wild crapemyrtle, is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae, native to the West Indies and northern South America and also cultivated in India. It grows to 3 m tall, with a dense, thorny crown. The leaves are evergreen, simple ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, with an entire margin. The flowers are produced in umbels of 2-5 together, each flower 1-1.5 cm diameter, with five pink or red petals. The fruit is bright red, 1.5-2 cm diameter, containing 2-3 hard seeds. It is juicy, often as much sour as sweet in flavor, and very high in vitamin C and other nutrients.

Malpighia proctorii is a species of plant in the Malpighiaceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Malpighia obtusifolia. It is endemic to Jamaica.

Malpighia harrisii. It is endemic to Jamaica.

Malpighia cauliflora. Jamaica.

Malpighia urens

Malpighia coccigera

Malpighia mexicana

Malpighia cubensis

Malpighia suberosa

Malpighia aquifolia

Malpighia emarginata

Malcolmia

Malcolmia is a genus from the family Brassicaceae. Species from this genus are native to Europe and Africa.

Several species are cultivated for their flowers, these include Virginian stock (Malcolmia maritima).

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Maackia

Maackia is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to eastern Asia.

They are small to medium-sized deciduous trees typically growing 10-15 m tall. The leaves are compound pinnate, with 7-17... more >>>

Nicandra physaloides

The Shoo-fly Plant (Nicandra physaloides), also known as the Apple of Peru, is an annual plant native to Peru. It is the only species in the genus Nicandra. They are known for their property of repelling insects.

Plants grow to... more >>>

Helianthus - Sunflower

The Helianthus genus comprises 67 species and several subspecies in the Asteraceae family, all of which are native to North America, with some species (particularly Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke))... more >>>

Dacrydium

Dacrydium is a genus of conifers belonging to the podocarp family Podocarpaceae. Sixteen species of evergreen dioecious trees and shrubs are presently recognized. The genus was first described by Solander in 1786.

The natural... more >>>