Plant Families: M to P

Melastomataceae

Melastome Family

Melastomataceae is a family of diverse plants found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. With over 4,000 species, it is one of the largest families of flowering plants, known for their showy flowers, striking foliage, and ecological importance.

Meliaceae

Mahogany Family

Meliceae is a family of flowering plants, known for their use in natural remedies and traditional medicine. They are valued for their timber, and include many economically important species.

Melanthiaceae

Bunchflower Family

Melanthiaceae is a family of perennial herbs that are distinguished by their clustered flowers and toxic alkaloids.

Montiaceae

Montia Family

Montiaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 300 species. They are commonly found in North America, South America, and Australia. Many species within this family have fleshy leaves and stems, making them well-suited to arid environments.

Metteniusaceae

Metteniusa Family

Metteniusaceae is a rare family of flowering plants that includes only two genera, Metteniusa and Xerospermum. These plants are native to tropical regions of Central and South America and are known for their unique floral morphology.

Monimiaceae

Monimia Family

Monimiaceae is a family of flowering plants found in tropical and subtropical regions, known for their aromatic leaves and fruit.

Musaceae

Banana Family

The Musaceae family comprises flowering plants commonly known as bananas. They are widely cultivated and prized for their fruit, which is a staple food in many parts of the world.

Myrtaceae

Myrtle Family

Myrtaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes over 5,000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs. They are known for their aromatic leaves and distinctive flowers, which often have numerous stamens. Many species in this family are economically important for their fruits, oils, and medicinal properties.

Malvaceae

Mallow Family

Malvaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes over 4,000 species. They are known for their showy flowers and palmate leaves, with representatives found in many parts of the world.

Moraceae

Mulberry Family

Moraceae is a family of flowering plants with over 1,000 species distributed around the world. The family includes trees, shrubs, and vines commonly known for their distinctive fruits and milky sap.

Marantaceae

Prayer Plant Family

Marantaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their strikingly patterned leaves and unique inflorescences. They are commonly grown as ornamental plants in tropical regions around the world.

Molluginaceae

Mollugo Family

Molluginaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of approximately 100 species distributed across the world. They are known for their succulent leaves and small, star-shaped flowers.

Marattiaceae

Marattia Family

Marattiaceae is a family of large, primitive ferns that have been around for over 300 million years. These plants are characterized by their distinctive, feathery fronds and spore-bearing structures called sori.

Menispermaceae

Moonseed Family

Menispermaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the moonseed family. The family includes more than 400 species of lianas, vines, and shrubs found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Myricaceae

Bayberry Family

Myricaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the bayberry family, consisting of around 55 species of trees and shrubs found in both temperate and tropical regions. Many species within this family have aromatic leaves and produce waxy berries or drupes that are used in various commercial applications.

Malpighiaceae

Malpighia Family

The Malpighiaceae family consists of over 1,200 species of flowering plants. These plants are characterized by their unique flowers and distinctive winged fruits. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and have many economic and ecological benefits.

Myristicaceae

Nutmeg Family

Myristicaceae is a family of flowering plants found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The family is well-known for its economic importance, particularly in the production of nutmeg and mace.

Magnoliaceae

Magnolia Family

Magnoliaceae family consists of flowering plants known for their large and fragrant flowers, which are often used in perfumes.

Mazaceae

Maza Family

Mazaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes approximately 30 species. These plants are predominantly found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and they are known for their showy flowers and unique growth habits.

Martyniaceae

Unicorn Plant Family

Martyniaceae is a family of flowering plants that are known for their unique fruit structures. These hard, spiny capsules are used to disperse seeds and have earned some members the nickname "devil's claw."

Menyanthaceae

Buckbean Family

Menyanthaceae is a family of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants that are known for their showy, star-shaped flowers and distinctive foliage.

Moringaceae

Moringa Family

A brief overview of the Moringaceae family: Moringaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes 13 species, with the most well-known being the moringa tree. These plants are known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, and have traditionally been used in Ayurvedic and African medicine.

Marcgraviaceae

Marcgravia Family

The Marcgraviaceae family comprises around 120 species of tropical vines and shrubs, known for their unique inflorescences and climbing habits.

Myodocarpaceae

Myodocarpus Family

Myodocarpaceae is a small family of flowering plants consisting of about 30 species. These plants are primarily found in South America and some parts of Africa. They are characterized by their small, inconspicuous flowers and fleshy fruit.

Montiniaceae

Montinia Family

Montiniaceae is a family of woody plants containing about 30 known species. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world and include shrubs, trees, and lianas.

Mayacaceae

Mayaca Family

Mayacaceae is a small family of flowering plants, consisting of only one genus (Mayaca) and around 10 species. These aquatic plants are primarily found in freshwater habitats across the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and Africa.

Maundiaceae

Maundia Family

The Maundiaceae family is a small, tropical group of trees and shrubs. They are known for their beautiful flowers and fruit, as well as their medicinal properties.

Microteaceae

Microtea Family

The Microteaceae family comprises small, inconspicuous bryophytes that are commonly found in damp habitats worldwide.

Myrothamnaceae

Myrothamnus Family

Myrothamnaceae is a small family of flowering plants comprising only one genus, Myrothamnus, which is known for its unique adaptations to extreme environmental conditions.

Muntingiaceae

Muntingia Family

Muntingiaceae is a small family of flowering plants, with only one genus, Muntingia. These trees are native to tropical regions and are known for their fast growth rate and edible fruit.

Mitrastemonaceae

Maza Family

Mitrastemonaceae is a small family of parasitic plants consisting of a single genus, Mitrastemon, and only two known species. They are unique in their morphology and lack of chlorophyll, making them entirely dependent on host plants for nutrients.

Misodendraceae

Misodendrum Family

Misodendraceae is a family of flowering plants that consists of small parasitic shrubs found primarily in the southern hemisphere.

Matoniaceae

Matonia Family

Matoniaceae is a family of ferns consisting of four genera and around 30 species. These plants are known for their unique and striking foliage, which makes them popular ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes.

Marsileaceae

Water Clover Family

The Marsileaceae family, commonly known as waterclovers, is a group of aquatic or semi-aquatic ferns found in wetlands and shallow waters around the world.

Macarthuriaceae

Fern Family

Macarthuriaceae is a family of flowering plants found in the southern hemisphere. The family includes only one genus, Macarthuria, which consists of 10 species of shrubs and small trees with distinctive leaves and flowers.

Nartheciaceae

Bog Asphodel Family

Nartheciaceae is a family of perennial herbaceous plants, also known as the bog-asphodel family. They are mostly found in wetland areas and have delicate, beautiful flowers.

Nymphaeaceae

Water Lily Family

The Nymphaeaceae family consists of aquatic plants commonly known as water lilies. These floating plants are prized for their beautiful flowers and ornamental value.

Nyctaginaceae

Four O'Clock Family

Nyctaginaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the Four O'clock family, with approximately 34 genera and over 400 species. These plants are found in diverse habitats across the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Nyssaceae

Tupelo Family

Nyssaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes only two living genera, Nyssa and Davidia. These trees are known for their distinctive bark and foliage, as well as their ecological importance in wetland and riparian habitats.

Neuradaceae

Neurada Family

Neuradaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes only two genera, Neurada and Rouya. These plants are known for their unusual appearance and can be found in arid regions of Africa and Asia.

Nothofagaceae

Southern Beech Family

Nothofagaceae is a family of trees and shrubs characterized by their distinctive foliage, bark, and wood. These plants are primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere and are known for their ecological and economic importance.

Nitrariaceae

Nitraria Family

Nitrariaceae is a family of woody flowering plants that are commonly found in desert and arid areas around the world.

Nepenthaceae

Pitcher Plant Family

Nepenthaceae is a unique family of carnivorous plants known for their striking pitcher-shaped traps, which they use to capture insects and other small prey.

Nelumbonaceae

Lotus Family

The Nelumbonaceae family consists of aquatic plants commonly known as lotus or water-lily. These stunning plants are widely popular for their beauty, cultural significance, and medicinal value.

Nesogenaceae

Cheirogyna Family

The Nesogenaceae family consists of small trees and shrubs, with attractive flowers and fruits. They are endemic to Hawaii, where they play an important ecological role, providing habitat and food sources for many native species.

Orchidaceae

Orchid Family

Orchidaceae, commonly known as orchids, is one of the largest families of flowering plants in the world, with over 25,000 species found in every continent except Antarctica. They are renowned for their stunning beauty and unique floral structures.

Orobanchaceae

Broomrape Family

Orobanchaceae is a family of parasitic plants commonly known as broomrapes that lack chlorophyll and depend entirely on their host for nutrients. They have unique features and fascinating adaptation mechanisms that enable them to survive and thrive in their often harsh and challenging environments.

Osmundaceae

Royal Fern Family

The Osmundaceae family consists of ferns with a long evolutionary history, dating back to the Jurassic period. The family is characterized by its large size and distinctive fronds, making it a popular choice for ornamental gardening.

Oxalidaceae

Oxalidaceae Family

The Oxalidaceae family, commonly known as the wood sorrel family, includes plants with clover-like leaves and showy flowers.

Oleaceae

Olive Family

The Oleaceae family consists of over 24 genera and 600 species of flowering plants, including trees, shrubs, and vines. They are mainly found in temperate and tropical regions and are known for their beautiful flowers and distinctive aroma.

Onagraceae

Evening Primrose Family

Onagraceae is a family of flowering plants that are found in various habitats worldwide, and they are known for their beautiful and showy flowers.

Olacaceae

Olax Family

Olacaceae is a family of flowering plants found primarily in tropical regions. They are known for their diverse range of ecological and economic importance, including medicinal properties, timber production, and contribution to local ecosystems.

Ochnaceae

Ochna Family

A family of flowering plants, Ochnaceae comprises approximately 30 genera and 500 species. These plants exhibit a wide range of growth habits, from shrubs to trees, and are mostly found in tropical regions. The flowers of these plants are often showy and brightly colored, making them popular ornamental plants in some areas.

Opiliaceae

Opilia Family

Opiliaceae are a family of flowering plants known for their interesting morphology, including their often fleshy and colorful fruits. These plants are found predominantly in tropical regions and play important ecological roles within their ecosystems.

Ophioglossaceae

Adder's Tongue Family

The Ophioglossaceae family consists of ferns commonly known as adders-tongues. These ferns are characterized by their simple leaves and unique reproductive structures.

Oncothecaceae

Fern Family

Oncothecaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes just one genus, Oncotheca. These plants are native to central and southern South America and are known for their distinctive fruit capsules.

Potamogetonaceae

Pondweed Family

Potamogetonaceae family includes aquatic plants known for their submerged leaves, small flowers, and unbranched stems. They are commonly found in freshwater habitats around the world.

Phrymaceae

Lopseed Family

Phrymaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes around 200 species in 13 genera. These plants are known for their tubular flowers and are distributed throughout the Americas.

Plumbaginaceae

Leadwort Family

Plumbaginaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their beautiful, colorful flowers and hardy nature. With over 800 species across 20 genera, this family includes many popular ornamental plants and medicinal herbs.

Phyllanthaceae

Phyllanthus Family

The Phyllanthaceae family includes a diverse group of flowering plants found throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Pentaphylacaceae

Pentaphylax Family

Pentaphylacaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes about 120 species of trees and shrubs. They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and some species are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive flowers and foliage.

Papaveraceae

Poppy Family

Papaveraceae is a family of flowering plants known for their showy and colorful flowers, as well as their medicinal properties.

Portulacaceae

Purslane Family

Portulacaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their succulent leaves and bright, showy flowers. They are found worldwide in various habitats, from deserts to coastlines.

Peraceae

Peraxilla Family

Peraceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the mulberry family, characterized by their alternate, simple leaves and small flowers containing four or five petals. Many species in this family are economically important for their fruit production, particularly the mulberry tree.

Polemoniaceae

Phlox Family

Polemoniaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their attractive, colorful flowers. These plants exhibit a range of growth habits and are found in diverse habitats across the globe.

Pandanaceae

Screw Pine Family

Pandanaceae is a family of flowering plants comprising around 1000 species of trees, shrubs, and climbers. These plants are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and are known for their aromatic leaves and unique growth habits.

Picramniaceae

Picramnia Family

The Picramniaceae family comprises a small group of flowering plants with only around 20 species. The plants are characterized by their compound leaves and small flowers, which produce fleshy fruits that often contain alkaloids.

Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus Family

Podocarpaceae is a family of coniferous trees and shrubs that are widely distributed across the Southern Hemisphere. They are known for their unique morphology, which includes flattened or needle-like leaves, distinctive cones, and often a single trunk with a conical or columnar shape. Many species within this family are ecologically important and have significant cultural and economic value in their native regions.

Petiveriaceae

Petiveria Family

Petiveriaceae is a small family of flowering plants with only one genus, Petiveria. The plants in this family are mainly distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions, and they are known for their medicinal properties as well as their use in traditional medicine.

Physenaceae

Physena Family

Physenaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their striking, bright flowers and unique fruiting structures. These plants are commonly found in tropical regions around the world and exhibit a range of growth habits and morphological features.

Phyllonomaceae

Phyllonoma Family

Phyllonomaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of only one genus, Phyllonomys. These rare and largely unstudied plants are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

Petermanniaceae

Spleenwort Family

The Petermanniaceae family consists of small, evergreen perennial herbs found predominantly in the southern hemisphere.

Pteridaceae

Pteridaceae Family

Pteridaceae is a family of ferns characterized by small, delicate fronds and intricate leaf patterns. These plants are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Poaceae

Grass Family

Poaceae is a large and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as grasses. They are found in almost every habitat on Earth and serve as food sources for both human and animal populations, as well as playing crucial roles in soil stabilization and erosion control.

Polypodiaceae

Polypody Family

The Polypodiaceae family is a diverse group of ferns found worldwide, characterized by their rhizomatous growth habit and pinnately compound leaves.

Piperaceae

Pepper Family

Piperaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their peppery taste and aromatic oils. The family includes over 5,000 species, many of which are used for culinary or medicinal purposes.

Podostemaceae

Podostemaceae Family

Podostemaceae is a diverse family of aquatic plants with unique morphology and adaptations. They are found growing on rocks in fast-flowing streams and waterfalls, and are characterized by their flattened stems, reduced leaves, and specialized roots that anchor them to the substrate.

Pinaceae

Pine Family

Pinaceae is a family of coniferous trees commonly known as the pine family. They are ecologically and economically important, and are recognizable by their needle-like leaves and cone-shaped seed structures.

Primulaceae

Primrose Family

With over 3000 species, Primulaceae is a family of flowering plants characterized by elongated petioles, whorled leaves, and flowers with five petals.

Polygonaceae

Buckwheat Family

Polygonaceae family includes over 1200 species of herbs, shrubs and vines found in diverse habitats throughout the world. These plants are known for their distinctive triangular-shaped stems and commonly have a sheathing stipule that surrounds the stem at the base of the leaf.

Polygalaceae

Milkwort Family

Polygalaceae is a diverse family of flowering plants found worldwide, with over 1,000 species. They are known for their distinctive bilaterally symmetrical flowers and range in appearance from shrubs to herbs.

Plantaginaceae

Plantain Family

Plantaginaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their small, inconspicuous flowers and distinctive basal rosette of leaves. Members of this family are found in diverse habitats worldwide and include many species valued for their medicinal properties.

Proteaceae

Protea Family

Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their beautiful and unique flowers. They are widespread in the Southern Hemisphere and include many species of trees, shrubs, and herbs.

Putranjivaceae

Putranjiva Family

Putranjivaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their oil-rich seeds and their presence in tropical and subtropical regions.

Picrodendraceae

Picrodendron Family

Picrodendraceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes around 100 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Passifloraceae

Passionflower Family

Passifloraceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the passionflower family. It includes over 700 species of vines, trees, and shrubs with showy, often fragrant flowers and unique fruit structures.

Pontederiaceae

Pickerelweed Family

The Pontederiaceae family consists of aquatic plants found in freshwater habitats. The plants have long, narrow leaves and distinctive flowers that are often used in aquariums and water gardens.

Paeoniaceae

Peony Family

The Paeoniaceae family, commonly known as the peony family, is a group of herbaceous perennial flowering plants prized for their large, showy, and fragrant blooms.

Pedaliaceae

Sesame Family

Pedaliaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes about 18 genera and over 200 species. These plants are known for their showy flowers and distinctive fruit capsules, which split open to reveal edible seeds inside. Many species in this family are native to arid regions of Africa, but they can also be found in other parts of the world.

Philesiaceae

Philesia Family

Philesiaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes only two genera and about ten species. These plants are mainly found in South America, where they grow in a variety of habitats such as high-altitude grasslands, rocky slopes, and forests.

Pittosporaceae

Pittosporum Family

Pittosporaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed throughout Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. They are characterized by their leathery leaves and fragrant flowers, which make them popular in horticulture.

Peridiscaceae

Peridiscus Family

Peridiscaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes only two genera, Peridiscus and Aphania. These plants are native to tropical regions of South America and have distinctive characteristics that make them interesting subjects for botanical study.

Phytolaccaceae

Pokeweed Family

Phytolaccaceae is a family of flowering plants that are primarily tropical in distribution. They are known for their showy inflorescences and often have medicinal properties.

Penaeaceae

Pentanisia Family

Penaeaceae is a family of flowering plants known for their striking and colorful blooms. With over 100 species, this family is primarily found in tropical regions and includes many popular ornamental plants.

Pandaceae

Panda Plant Family

Pandaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes only one genus, Pandalus. These tropical trees have a unique and interesting appearance that makes them stand out from other plant families.

Philydraceae

Philydrum Family

Philydraceae is a family of flowering plants that includes aquatic or wetland plants mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions.

Petrosaviaceae

Petrosavia Family

Petrosaviaceae is a small family of flowering plants, consisting of only two known species. They are generally found in humid and shaded tropical regions in Central and South America.

Posidoniaceae

Posidonia Family

Posidoniaceae is a family of aquatic plants, commonly known as seagrasses. These plants are found in shallow coastal waters around the world and play an important ecological role in maintaining marine ecosystems.

Paracryphiaceae

Paracryphia Family

Paracryphiaceae is a family of flowering plants that are endemic to New Caledonia and one species in Fiji. They are small trees or shrubs that often have distinctive leaves and flowers, and many species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Pentadiplandraceae

Pentadiplandra Family

Pentadiplandraceae is a small family of flowering plants consisting of only one genus, Pentadiplandra. The family is known for its unique and potent sweetener, thaumatin, which is used in the food industry as a natural sugar substitute.

Paulowniaceae

Paulownia Family

Paulowniaceae is a family of fast-growing trees found in Asia and North America, known for their beautiful flowers and wood that is highly valued for its strength and lightweight properties.

Pennantiaceae

Pennantia Family

Pennantiaceae is a small family of flowering plants that includes just two genera and a handful of species. These plants are known for their unique morphology and interesting ecological adaptations.

Platanaceae

Sycamore Family

Platanaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the plane tree or sycamore family. The family includes two genera and around 10 species of trees that are found throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Penthoraceae

Penthorum Family

Penthoraceae is a family of small aquatic or marshy herbaceous plants. They have star-shaped flowers and are found in North America, particularly in the western United States.

Pentaphragmataceae

Phelline Family

Pentaphragmataceae is a family of flowering plants with only one known genus, Pentaphragma. They are found in tropical regions and have small, bell-shaped flowers that are often white or pink.

Phellinaceae

Asteropaea Family

Phellinaceae is a small family of flowering plants consisting of only two genera, with a few species. These plants are primarily found in the Americas and are known for their medicinal properties and ornamental value.

Psilotaceae

Psilotum Family

Psilotaceae is a small family of ferns that are known for their unique morphology and ecology. They have no true roots or leaves, instead having simple stems and small, scale-like structures. Psilotaceae are found throughout the tropics and subtropics, often in association with other epiphytic plants.

Petenaeaceae

Ceriopetalum Family

Petenaeaceae is a small family of flowering plants, consisting of just one genus, Petenaea. These plants are native to Central and South America and are known for their fragrant flowers and medicinal properties.

Plocospermataceae

Bracken Family

Plocospermataceae is a small family of flowering plants that are native to South America. These plants have distinctive flowers and fruits, and some species are used for medicinal purposes.