A genus of tropical American shrubs with opposite leaves and small white or reddish flowers. The drupes of Malpighia glabra (formerly Malpighia urens) are eaten under the name of Barbadoes cherries.

type genus of the Malpighiaceae

Malpighia is a genus of about 45 species of shrubs or small trees in the family Malpighiaceae, native to the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. The species grow to 1-6 m tall, with a dense, often thorny crown. The leaves are evergreen, simple, 0.5-15 cm long, with an entire or serrated margin.