Medinilla is a large paleotropical genus of about 370 species of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to tropical regions of the Old World from Africa east through southeast Asia to Australia and the western Pacific Ocean. The genus was named after José de Medinilla y Pineda, governor of the Mariana Islands in 1820.
Species in this genus are evergreen shrubs or vines. The leaves are opposite or whorled, or alternate in some species. The flowers are white, pink, red, or orange, and are produced singly or in large panicles.Certain Medinilla species have high economic value as they are used in medicinal and ornamental applications.
Selected species For a complete list of species, see List of Medinilla species
The following species have articles on Wikipedia: Medinilla acutialata – Vietnam Medinilla acutissimifolia – Madagascar Medinilla afromontana – East Tropical Africa region Medinilla aggregata Borneo Medinilla balls-headleyi – Queensland Medinilla beamanii – Borneo Medinilla cumingii – Philippines Medinilla magnifica – Philippines Medinilla multiflora – Philippines Medinilla samoensis – Samoa Medinilla sedifolia – Madagascar Medinilla speciosa – Philippines Medinilla theresae – Philippines Medinilla waterhousei – Fiji
References
External links
Renner, S. S. (2004). Multiple Miocene Melastomataceae dispersal between Madagascar, Africa and India. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 359(1450): 1485-1494 (pdf file)