MELASTOMATACEAE

 

Herbs, shrubs, or trees, climbing or epiphytic; Leaves commonly opposite and decussate, simple, flower bisexual actinomorphic mostly 4-5 merous, cymose, the perianth biseriate, the sepals 5 (3-6). valvate or connate, petals mostly 5, distinct imbricate, stamens mostly twice as many as petals in 2 whorls, the filaments distinct, often geniculate, inflexed in but, the anthers typically 2 celled, introse, basifixed, connectives often variously appendaged, pistil one, ovary superior, the placentation axile,  the ovules usually very numerous on each placenta, anatropous, the style and stigma 1 and simple; fruit a loculicidal capsule or berry; seeds with minute embryo and lacking endosperm.