Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 437 > Melastomataceae > Medinilla

5. Medinilla rubicunda (Jack) Blumewfo-0001083237

Flora 14: 512. 1831; Bakh.f. in Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 368. 1963; J.F.Maxwell, Gard. Bull. (Singapore) 31: 174, fig. 10, pl. 3 (photo of type). 1978.— Melastoma rubicundum Jack, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 14: 18. 1823.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Epiphytic shrubs, branches quadrangular, fleshy, glabrous, smooth or pustulate. Leaves opposite, elliptic, or oblanceolate, 7–13 x 3–5 cm, base cuneate-decurrent, sometimes auricled, apex acute to shortly acuminate, lamina with 1 pair of lateral primary veins departing above the blade base, fleshy to coriaceous, petioles to 0.4 cm long. Inflorescences axillary few-flowered fasciculate cymes, 1.5–2.5 cm long, or flowers solitary or in pairs, peduncle 0–3 mm long. Flowers 4- or 5-merous; pedicels 3–4(–6) mm long; bracts minute, lanceolate. Hypanthium campanulate, 3–4 mm long, calyx rim ca 1 mm high, obscurely 4- or 5-dentate, ovary ca ¾ as long as the hypanthium, stamen pockets extending below the middle of the ovary. Petals oblong to obovate, acute, 5–7 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, white or pale pink. Stamens 8 or 10, equal, anthers straight, ca 5 mm long, connective dorsally crested, ventrally with two small auricles. Berry 5–6 mm across, urceolate or subglobose, with a fleshy pulp and a thin pericarp, pink.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; PENINSULAR: Ranong, Satun, Pattani (Betong, Kerr 7603, K), Yala (Khao Kalakiri, 900 m – type of Medinilla emarginata: Kerr 7771 -BK K), Narathiwat.

Distribution : India (Nepal), China, Burma, Malay Peninsula (type of Medinilla rubicundum: Wallich cat. 4086).

Ecology : Growing in evergreen forests, also on trees in peat swamp forests or on rocks, up to 1,400 m alt.

Vernacular : Khleng hin (เคลงหิน).