Malpighia

Malpighia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malpighiaceae. It includes shrubs and small trees native to the tropical Americas, with greatest diversity in the Caribbean and in Central and South America. The genus comprises about 50 to 60 species. The name Malpighia was given by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in honor of Marcello Malpighi, a 17th-century physician and anatomist.

Plants in the genus are typically shrubs or small trees with opposite, simple leaves. Flowers are small and usually five-petaled; they are often arranged in clusters and can be yellow, pink, or red. The fruit is a fleshy drupe that ripens to red or other colors depending on species, and contains one or more seeds.

The best-known species is Malpighia emarginata, commonly called acerola or Barbados cherry, which bears very vitamin-C-rich fruit. Acerola fruit is cultivated in tropical regions for processing into juices, concentrates, and supplements. Other Malpighia species are valued locally for edible fruits or ornamental use, but most are not widely cultivated. The genus is commonly found in tropical scrub and forest edges and can tolerate disturbed habitats.