Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 441 > Melastomataceae > Melastoma

2. Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex C.B.Clarkewfo-0001225521

in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 524. 1879; King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 69: 5. 1900; Meyer, Blumea 46: 363. 2001.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub, 1–3 m tall, branchlets quadrangular and densely covered with appressed scales. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, 11–18 x 5.8–8 cm, base acute or rounded, apex acute or acuminate, lamina with 2 pairs of lateral primary veins, strigose on both sides, petioles 1.3–3.5 cm long. Inflorescences compact cymes of usually 7–9 flowers, terminal on old wood, overtopped by young subterminal shoots. Flowers 5-merous, bracts early caducous. Hypanthium 5–9 mm long, densely covered with appressed scales, 1–2.5 mm long; calyx lobes ± lanceolate, 5–8 mm long, early caducous. Petals 25–35 mm long, purple. Stamens 10, dimorphic, outer anthers 7–9 mm long, lilac, connective prolongation (pedoconnective) 48 mm long, inner anthers 5–6 mm long, yellow, pedoconnective short. Ovary apically setose. Capsule 7–11 mm long, rupturing irregularly transversely at maturity, pulp soft, dark purple.

Thailand : NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi.

Distribution : From India (syntypes) across SE Asia and Malesia to New Guinea, the Philippines, New Hebrides and N Australia.

Ecology : In mixed deciduous and hill evergreen forests.

E-version notes : As Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex Triana
Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28: 60. 1871 publ. 1872.