Loiventaceae

Loiventaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Malpighiales. It currently comprises two genera and about eight described species, native to tropical regions. Most species occur in montane forests of eastern Africa and southern Asia.

Taxonomically, Loiventaceae has a contested history. Early classifications placed it in Flacourtiaceae or allied tropical lineages. With molecular phylogenetics, Loiventaceae is now recognized as a distinct lineage within Malpighiales in several modern treatments.

Members are evergreen shrubs or small trees, typically 3–12 meters tall. Leaves are alternate and simple; stipules are variable or absent. Flowers are small, actinomorphic, with five sepals and five petals; fruit ranges from capsules to berries.

The family currently comprises two genera, Loiventia and Miraloiventa, together with about eight described species. Loiventia species tend to produce dry capsules, while Miraloiventa species more often bear fleshy fruits.

Distribution covers tropical montane forests from eastern Africa to Southeast Asia, at elevations roughly 800 to 2,000 meters. They favor shaded understory habitats with moist, well-drained soils.

Ecology is poorly known; pollination is presumed to be insect‑mediated, and seed dispersal remains unclear. Some species have local traditional uses, but overall the genus receives limited research and faces threats from habitat loss.