Malpighia

Malpighia
Malpighia glabra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Malpighiaceae
Genus:	Malpighia L.
Species
About 45; see text

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 aquifolia
• Malpighia cauliflora
• Malpighia coccigera
• Malpighia cubensis
• Malpighia emarginata
• Malpighia glabra (Acerola)
• Malpighia harrisii
• Malpighia mexicana
• Malpighia obtusifolia
• Malpighia proctorii
• Malpighia suberosa
• Malpighia urens (Cowhage)