Common Name: Singapore Rhododendron

General Information

Melastoma malabathricum is a spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree usually growing up to 2.5 metres tall, but with some specimens reaching a height of 5 metres[, , ].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food and medicine[]. It is locally cultivated as an ornamental[]. It is cultivated in Malaysia in caoutchouc plantations as a cover plant[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Asia - Indian Ocean Islands throughout South and South-East Asia, Australia and South Pacific.

Habitat

Found in disturbed locations, on fallow land, or in grasslands from sea-level up to 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of hot, wet, tropical lowlands[]. The subsp. M. malabathricum normale has a more northern distribution and is confined to higher elevations in tropical areas[].
Prefers an open, well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil[].
This plant can be a serious weed in pastures, pineapple and other crops on peat soils. It is also a serious weed in oil palm, rubber and coconut. Locally it can be a weed in cassava, sugar cane, tea and upland rice[].

Edible Uses

The young shoots are eaten as a fresh or cooked vegetable[].

The fleshy pulp of the fully ripe fruit is eaten fresh[]. A sweet flavour, but slightly astringent[]. The fruit is fleshy, 7 - 11 mm x 6 - 10 mm, containing a soft dark blue pulp with orange seeds[].

Medicinal

The plant is often used medicinally in Asia, where it is particularly valued for its astringent properties[]. A decoction of the leaves either alone or in combination with other plants, is used in the treatment of stomach aches, indigestion, diarrhoea dysentery, and leucorrhoea[].
The ground up leaves are applied externally as a compress to cuts, wounds and swellings. A strong decoction of the leaves is applied painful arthritic joints, and also to weeping sores caused by stinging insect hairs in order to aid extraction of the hairs[]. It is also applied to other types of weeping wounds in order to disinfect them[].

A decoction of roots and leaves is given to women after childbirth[].
The powdered leaves and roots may be sprinkled on wounds. They are also used in an application for haemorrhoids, apparently for their astringent properties[].

The roots are simply sucked or may be used for making a gargle in treating toothache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species is a pioneer plant with a high dispersal capacity. It can germinate and grow in fields of the noxious weed Imperata cylindrica, and finally smother this grass[]. Using this species as a pioneer, however, requires careful thought due to its ability to escape from cultivation and invade non-native areas[].

Other Uses

The fruit yields a black or purple dye[].
The leaves and roots yield a pink dye[].

The ashes from the plant can be used as a mordant[].

A tar obtained from the wood is used for blackening the teeth[].

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[]. Seed trials gave 65% germination within 10 - 15 days and up to 80% germination within 30 days[].

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