Malpighian

The most characteristic habitats of representatives of this family are sparse forests, river banks, and also various types of savanna . Malpigian plants are also found in tropical rain forests , in swamps , in shrub thickets of sea coasts, and also in semi-deserts . There are no cold-resistant species among the Malpighians, therefore they are not found in the mountains.

Malpigievyh - creepers , shrubs or low trees .

Many forest malpigia are lianas , and many of them are distinguished by twisted stems , which is a consequence of the anomalous growth of wood .

Some of the malpigian of dry places have xeromorphic appearance : they have needle-like leaves and tuberous roots. Such are, for example, the species from the genus Camarea ( Camarea ), growing in the Brazilian savannas.

The leaves of the members of the family are usually whole, opposite, with stipules .

The lower side of the leaf blade in many species is studded with so-called malpighian hairs - thin sharp hairs that sit on short, easily breaking off legs. Also on the lower side of the leaf (sometimes on the stem) many plants of this family have secretory glands.

Flowers bisexual, gathered in a brush . Perianth double. Sepals and petals of five. Calyx often with nectar glands that are of great importance for the process of pollination . Along the edges of the petals there may also be glands, only smaller ones. Stamens are usually ten, they are located in two circles, while the stamens of the outer circle oppose the petals. Stamens are often transformed into staminodes (stamens without anthers ). The color of the corolla is most often yellow, but it is also found blue, purple, and pink. Petals often with marigolds and fringed plates. There are species with no-petal flowers.

Ovary is upper, most often three-gnawed, sometimes two-gnawed or four-gnezdny. The fruit splits into lionfish . Another fruit variant is a drupe with several seeds .

In most plants of this family, pollination occurs with the help of insects . The main carriers of pollen are anthophorids and trigonides .

Juicy fruits are spread by birds , dry - with the help of water or wind. Especially great diversity is observed among the seeds adapted to flight.

Fruits of some plants from the Malpighiev family are edible. The most famous is the so-called Barbados cherry .

Some Malpighian wood is used for household purposes, as well as for coloring matter.

Some plants from this family contain potent alkaloids , the properties of which are actively involved in modern medicine . Since ancient times, Indian tribes in South America knew about the hallucinogenic properties of these plants and used them in ritual ceremonies.

Some malpighian grown as ornamental plants .