This book presents a synthesis of critical new information for the Melastomataceae, one of the ten richest families among flowering plants with over 5,800 species that has its diversity highly concentrated in tropical or subtropical areas. It describes the family's global diversity and distribution and summarizes recent advances in systematics, evolution, biogeography, reproductive biology and ecology.

Foreword<p></p><p>Preface</p><p>Section I - An introduction to Melastomataceae</p><p>1. Melastomataceae diversity and distribution</p><p>2. History of Classification of the Melastomataceae</p><p>3. General morphology and terminology </p><p>4. Historical biogeography of Melastomataceae</p><p><br></p><p>Section II - Systematics</p><p>5. An overview of Melastomataceae classification and phylogenetics</p><p>6. Revisiting character evolution in the Myrtales and its bearing on classification: Should the circumscription of Melastomataceae include the "memecyloids"? </p><p>7. Systematics of Kibessieae </p><p>8. Systematics of Astronieae</p><p>9. Phylogeny and systematics of Henrietteeae </p><p>10. The tribe Miconieae: many genera or one genus?<br></p><p>11. Systematics and taxonomy of the Merianieae</p><p>12. Systematics of Bertolonieae and Trioleneae</p><p>13. Systematics of Blakeeae</p><p>14. The tribe Cyphostyleae; exceptions that prove the rules</p><p>15. Systematics of Sonerileae and Dissocheteae: creating order out of chaos</p><p>16. Systematics of Cambessedesieae</p><p>17. Systematics of Rhexieae </p><p>18. Systematics of Microlicieae</p><p>19. Systematic studies in the Neotropical tribe Marcetieae </p><p>20. Melastomateae: a review on the taxonomic history, morphology, molecular phylogeny and biogeography</p><p><br></p><p>Section III - Evolution: Morphology, Biology, Reproduction and Biogeography</p><p>21. Comparative floral ontogeny of Melastomataceae</p><p>22. Seed morphological features in Melastomataceae</p><p>23. Patterns of Chromosome Number Diversity and Evolution in the Melastomataceae</p><p>24. Apomixis in Melastomataceae: Diversity of developmental mechanisms and ecological consequences</p><p>25. Pollination syndromes and flower diversification in Melastomataceae</p>26. Stamen diversity in Melastomataceae: morphology, color and function<p></p><p>27. Patterns of diversification of Miconia (Miconieae) in the Greater and Lesser Antilles</p><p>28. Colonization by Melastomataceae and its diversification in the Atlantic Forest</p><p>29. A review of the paleobotanical record of Melastomataceae </p><p> </p><p>Section IV - Ecology</p><p>30. Shapes of species responses to soil fertility in lowland Amazonian Melastomataceae </p><p>31. Seed germination ecology in Neotropical Melastomataceae </p><p>32. Seed dispersal ecology in Neotropical Melastomataceae</p><p>33. Myrmecophytism in the Melastomataceae</p><p><br></p><p>Section V -  Melastomataceae and humans</p><p>34. How non-native  invasive Melastomataceae inform a greater understanding of the biology and genetics of the family</p><p><br></p><p>Conclusion and future prospects</p>