Melastoma sanguineum
Sims
Melastomataceae
Melastoma decemfidum Roxb.
Melastoma dendrisetosum C.Chen
Common Name:
General Information
Melastoma sanguineum is an evergreen shrub or small tree usually growing 1.5 - 5 metres tall, but sometimes up to 10 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1031- Title
- Revision of the Southeast Asian Genus Melastoma (Melastomataceae)
- Publication
- Blumea 46 pp 351 - 398
- Author
- Meyer K.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local medicinal use, being valued especially as an astringent. It is possibly also used as a food.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1031- Title
- Revision of the Southeast Asian Genus Melastoma (Melastomataceae)
- Publication
- Blumea 46 pp 351 - 398
- Author
- Meyer K.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.
Habitat
Disturbed forests, along streams and roads, in open places and savannahs; at elevations of up to 2,300 metres[
1031- Title
- Revision of the Southeast Asian Genus Melastoma (Melastomataceae)
- Publication
- Blumea 46 pp 351 - 398
- Author
- Meyer K.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| 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[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
Edible Uses
We have no specific information for this species, but the fruits of many species in the genus are eaten as a snack[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. They generally have a sweet flavour, but can be quite astringent, especially if not fully ripe[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. The fruit is a fleshy capsules around 8 - 19mm in diameter with a solid, yellow pulp and minute orange seeds[
1031- Title
- Revision of the Southeast Asian Genus Melastoma (Melastomataceae)
- Publication
- Blumea 46 pp 351 - 398
- Author
- Meyer K.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
The roots, leaves, flowering tops or berries are astringent and are used in the treatment of conditions such as diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, and dysentery[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
785- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Duong
- Publisher
- Mekong Printing; Vietnam (Printers)
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-9837303-1-2
- Description
- Published by the author, this is an excellent book on the medicinal attributes of plants growing in the area that used to be called Indo-China.
].
Externally, they can be used as a wash on cuts, wounds etc.
The roots are considered a stimulant and tonic[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. They are used to treat vertigo and general malaise[
785- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Duong
- Publisher
- Mekong Printing; Vietnam (Printers)
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-9837303-1-2
- Description
- Published by the author, this is an excellent book on the medicinal attributes of plants growing in the area that used to be called Indo-China.
].
Melastoma species are rich in tannins of the hydrolysable type. Most of them are di- and trimers, with reported bactericidal and antiviral activities[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
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[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. In trials, the seed germinated within 25 - 50 days[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
