Usually climbers, sometimes small trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. Indumentum of characteristic centrally attached, T-shaped unicellular hairs. Stipules present, variable. Leaves simple, opposite, rarely subopposite or in whorls of 3, petiolate, rarely sessile, margin entire, often with 2 fleshy glands beneath, usually at base. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, racemose or paniculate, with bracts and bracteoles; pedicels articulate. Flowers showy, usually yellow or white, bisexual (rarely

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... xual), actinomorphic to zygomorphic, 5-merous; sepals 5, imbricate, free to slightly connate, persistent, often with 1-10 glands on the outside of the calyx, usually a pair (reduced in Old World species); petals 5, free, imbricate, crumpled in bud, usually clawed, margin often ciliate to fringed, dentate or fimbriate; stamens 10, sometimes unequal, in (1-)2(-3) whorls, sometimes fewer in a single whorl, filaments moreor-less connate at base, anthers 2-locular, dehiscing longitudinally; nectary inconspicuous or absent; ovary superior, carpels 3 (elsewhere 2 or 4), styles 3 or connate into 1, persistent, ovule 1 per locule, placentation axile. Fruits dry, samaras, splitting into 2-3 mericarps, often winged or sometimes nut-like (elsewhere drupes or berries). Seeds with a large oily embryo, straight or rarely curved, without endosperm. Distribution. About 68 genera worldwide with c. 1,250 species in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the New World, especially in Brazil, and with c. 150 species in the Old World (Stevens, APG Website, 19 July 2011). Four genera and seven species in Peninsular Malaysia. Uses. Fruits of Bunchosia species, the Barbados cherry Malpighia emarginata DC., and the escobilla M. glabra L. are edible and rich in vitamin C (Mabberley, 2008). In Peninsular Malaysia, golden shower Galphimia gracilis Bartl., golden chain tree Lophanthera lactescens Ducke, miniature holly Malpighia coccigera L., butterfly tree Stigmaphyllon ciliatum A. Juss., and shower-of-gold vine Tristellateia australasiae A.Rich. are popular ornamental plants. In Thailand, the helicopter flower Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz is grown as a bonsai (Mabberley, 2008). Taxonomy. The Malpighiaceae is placed in the order Malpighiales. Among Malaysian families, Malpighiaceae is most closely related to Chrysobalanaceae, Dichapetalaceae and Trigoniaceae (Stevens, APG Website,