Family · Rosids
Malpighiaceae
Acerola, barbados cherry
Tropical family of vines, shrubs and trees with oil-gland flowers, including Barbados cherry and the ayahuasca vine.
- Accepted species
- 1,496accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 71accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈51 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Malpighiaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Malpighia (Barbados cherry)
- Banisteriopsis (ayahuasca)
- Byrsonima
Largest genera
Heteropterys166 spp.
Byrsonima164 spp.
Stigmaphyllon119 spp.
Malpighia110 spp.
Bunchosia92 spp.
Hiraea81 spp.
Banisteriopsis65 spp.
Tetrapterys56 spp.
Hiptage49 spp.
Mascagnia48 spp.
Acridocarpus36 spp.
Diplopterys31 spp.
Peixotoa30 spp.
Glicophyllum28 spp.
Microsteira28 spp.
Galphimia26 spp.
Aspicarpa25 spp.
Aspidopterys24 spp.
Tristellateia21 spp.
Niedenzuella18 spp.
Triaspis16 spp.
Amorimia15 spp.
Mezia15 spp.
Pterandra15 spp.
Schwannia14 spp.
Bronwenia13 spp.
Callaeum11 spp.
Diacidia11 spp.
Philgamia11 spp.
Spachea11 spp.
Camarea9 spp.
Psychopterys9 spp.
Carolus8 spp.
Acmanthera7 spp.
Dicella7 spp.
Lophopterys7 spp.
Blepharandra6 spp.
Jubelina6 spp.
Mamedea6 spp.
Burdachia5 spp.
Christianella5 spp.
Thryallis5 spp.
Adelphia4 spp.
Excentradenia4 spp.
Lasiocarpus4 spp.
Malpighiodes4 spp.
Mionandra4 spp.
Ptilochaeta4 spp.
Brachylophon3 spp.
Caucanthus3 spp.
Cottsia3 spp.
Glandonia3 spp.
Mcvaughia3 spp.
Alicia2 spp.
Barnebya2 spp.
Calcicola2 spp.
Dinemandra2 spp.
Echinopterys2 spp.
Heladena2 spp.
Janusia2 spp.
The 11 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Southern America1,169
- Northern America178
- Africa124
- Asia-Tropical77
- Asia-Temperate28
- Pacific14
- Australasia3
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Malpighiaceae sits in the order Malpighiales.
- EuphorbiaceaeSpurges, poinsettia, cassava, rubber6,587
- Phyllanthaceaeleaf-flowers2,106
- SalicaceaeWillows, poplars, aspen1,621
- ViolaceaeViolets, pansies1,309
- PassifloraceaePassionflowers1,083
- ClusiaceaeMangosteen, St John's wort allies910
- OchnaceaeMickey Mouse plant646
- HypericaceaeSt John's wort639
- ChrysobalanaceaeCoco plum548
- Calophyllaceae438
- PodostemaceaeRiverweeds363
- LinaceaeFlax284
- ErythroxylaceaeCoca283
- Putranjivaceae224
- Dichapetalaceaepoison leaf210
- AchariaceaeChaulmoogra180
- RhizophoraceaeMangroves155
- Peraceae107
- Picrodendraceae98
- Humiriaceae67
- ElatinaceaeWaterworts59
- RafflesiaceaeCorpse flower (Rafflesia)50
- Bonnetiaceae38
- Trigoniaceae33