Marcgraviaceae

The Marcgraviaceae are a neotropical angiosperm family in the order Ericales. The members of the family are shrubs, woody epiphytes, and lianas, with alternate, pinnately nerved leaves. The flowers are arranged in racemes. The flowers are accompanied by modified, fleshy, saccate bracts which produce nectar. The flowers are pentamerous. The fruits are capsules. General Marcgravia - (ca. 65 spp.): S Mexico, Mesoamerica, South America, Antilles Marcgraviastrum - (15 spp.): S Nicaragua to Peru, Bolivia plus 2 spp. in E Brazil Norantea - (2 spp.): Caribbean and Amazonian basin of NE South America Ruyschia - (9 spp.): Mesoamerica, N Andes, Lesser Antilles Sarcopera - (ca. 10 spp.): Honduras to N Bolivia, Guiana Highlands Schwartzia - (ca. 15 spp.): Costa Rica through the Andes south to Bolivia, in the Caribbean basin and 1 sp. in E Brazil Souroubea - (19 spp.): Mexico to Bolivia (absent from the Antilles) There are 2 known subfamilies; Marcgravioideae (containing Marcgravia and Marcgraviastrum) and Noranteoideae (containing the rest of the genera). Former genus include Pseudosarcopera (now listed as a synonym of Sarcopera).