This species is often referred to as Melastoma septemnervium Lour. However, this is based on Melastoma septemnervium Lour. Fl. cochinch. 1:273. 1790 (non Jacq. 1760), which is an illegitimate later homonym (Melbourne ICN Art. 53) that is unavailable for use.

Common Name:

General Information

Melastoma candidum is an erect, evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow from 1.5 - 5 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and food. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, northern Vietnam.

Habitat

Light forests, clearings, and grass lands, or on rocky slopes, at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is often grown as an ornamental - in Hawaii it has proved to be an invasive shrub that can spread rapidly and may form dense monotypic thickets in a variety of habitats such as: open land, grassland, shrubland and native forest[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. They need to be fully ripe, or else they can be astringent[]. Eaten as a snack, they generally have a sweet flavour. The fruit is a fleshy capsule 8 - 12mm long and 7 - 10mm wide, conaining a black pulpy flesh with small yellow seeds[].

Medicinal

The roots, leaves, flowering tops or berries are astringent and are used in the treatment of conditions such as diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, and dysentery[].
Externally, they can be used as a wash on cuts, wounds etc.

Melastoma species are rich in tannins of the hydrolysable type, mainly di- and trimers, with reported bactericidal and antiviral activities[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown fresh in a nursery seedbed, or in containers because of the small size of the seed. Germination is best in either full sun or in light shade[].

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