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Barbados cherry family
Malpighiaceae
キントラノオ科
A tropical family of about 75 genera and 1,300 species. Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is known in Japan as a vitamin C source. Distinguished by T-shaped or Y-shaped glandular hairs (Malpighian trichomes) and winged fruits. Distributed mainly in the Neotropics.
Key Characteristics
- ●T-shaped or Y-shaped glandular hairs (Malpighian trichomes) on leaf surfaces
- ●One of five petals is enlarged as a banner petal with a developed claw
- ●Fruits are schizocarps (samaras), many adapted for wind dispersal
- ●Mostly woody climbers
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree / Vine
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic / Zygomorphic
Petal count
Many
Petal fusion
Free
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
5
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Malpighiales > Malpighiaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (about 60–50 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Diverse evolution of wind dispersal through winged fruits (samaras)
- ・Specialization of Malpighian trichomes (T-shaped glandular hairs)
Plants in Barbados cherry family on this site
AI-generated, needs verification