Britannica Sources used in this answer

What makes the leaf veins of Melastomataceae plants distinctive?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

common myrtle — Myrtales Common myrtle (*Myrtus communis*).

The leaf venation of plants in the family Melastomataceae is highly distinctive due to a specific arrangement of veins. Nearly all members of this family possess several main secondary veins that branch out from the base of the leaf blade. These are accompanied by many tertiary veins that run in a transverse pattern across the blade, creating a characteristic appearance.1