Volume 7 > Part 3 > Year 2001 > Page 444 > Melastomataceae > Melastoma

5. Melastoma orientale Guillauminwfo-0000160503

Bull. Soc. Bot. France 60: 366, 402. 1913; Guillaumin in Lecomte, Fl. Gén. I.-C. 2: 888. 1921; Craib in Fl. Siam. Enum. 1: 682. 1931; Meyer, Blumea 46: 373. 2001.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub, 0.3–1.5(–5) m tall, branchlets quadrangular, covered with appressed, 1–1.5 mm long bristles, at the nodes with spreading bristles up to 5 mm. Leaves lanceolate, 4–9.3 x 1–3.5 cm, base acute or rounded, apex acute, lamina thin and with 1–2 pairs of lateral primary veins, strigose on both sides, petioles 0.3–1.5 cm long. Inflorescences few-flowered cymes, terminal or in distal leaf axils, or solitary flowers. Flowers 5 merous, bracts lanceolate to obovate, 2–7 mm long, sparingly hairy outside. Hypanthium 3–6 mm long, sparingly covered with 2–3.5 mm long erect bristles and emergences crowned by bristles; calyx lobes narrowly triangular to linear, 3–5 mm long. Petals 6–8 mm long, purple. Stamens 10, dimorphic or isomorphic, purplish, longer anthers 4–5 mm long, the connective prolonged below the anthers for ca 5 mm, if dimorphic then only the longer (outer) stamens prolonged below the anthers for 1–2 mm. Ovary apically setose. Berry globoes, 6–8 mm in diam., dark blue at maturity.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Lampang, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun, Nong Khai; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; CENTRAL: Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Ranong (Khao Patwa Chondong, 12 km N Kapoe, 800 m – type of Otanthera confusa: Kerr 16763 -BK K), Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun.

Distribution : Burma, Laos, S Vietnam (type).

Ecology : In open places but also in evergreen or deciduous forests or beside streams, from sea level to 800 m alt.

Vernacular : Khlong khleng tua phu (โคลงเคลงตัวผู้)(Trat).

Notes: Melastoma orientale resembles M. cyanoides from which it differs in the elongated stamen connectives (at least in the outer stamens), while M. cyanoides lacks elongated connectives. Most individuals have dimorphic stamens, but some have isomorphic stamens (K.Meyer, pers. Obs. At Ko Chang).