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Useful Tropical Plants

Memecylon ovatum

Sm.

Melastomataceae


This species is closely related to Memecylon edule Roxb.[
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.
].

+ Synonyms

Memecylon edule Fern.-Vill.

Memecylon edule ovatum (Sm.) C.B.Clarke

Memecylon ferreum Blume

Memecylon grande ovatum (Sm.) Trimen

Memecylon laxiflorum Wall.

Memecylon laxiflorum Wall. ex Ridl.

Memecylon lucidum C.Presl

Memecylon parviflorum Blanco

Memecylon pierrei Hance

Memecylon prasinum Naudin

Memecylon rhodophyllum Bakh.f.

Memecylon tinctorium Blanco

Memecylon umbellatum Merr.

Memecylon violaceum Cogn.

Common Name:

Memecylon ovatum
Flowering branch
Photograph by: P.B. Pelser
© P.B. Pelser
Memecylon ovatum Memecylon ovatum

General Information

Memecylon ovatum is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually growing up to 8 metres tall but occasionally reaching up to 14 metres[
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.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

464
Title
A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
Publication
 
Author
Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Dulau and Co; London.
Year
1898
ISBN
 
Description
Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines.

Habitat

Lowland dipterocarp forest, rocky and sandy shores; either growing very near to the sea on exposed rocks or slightly further inland on ridge tops of limestone hills. Often gregarious[
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.
,
334
Title
Flora of Peninsula Malaysia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tfbc.frim.gov.my
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
In the process of being assembled (15/07/09), it is currently a series of check sheets giving species name, brief description, habitat and high quality photos of the plants.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height6.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


We have no specific information for this species, but in general the species in this genus succeed in full sun or in partial shade, growing best in a moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil[
974
Title
Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
Publication
 
Author
Ahmed Fayaz
Publisher
Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
Year
2011
ISBN
978-1-55407-489
Description
A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Plants concentrate aluminium in their leaves and are thus able to grow in aluminium-rich acid soils that can be toxic for many other species.

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked[
464
Title
A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
Publication
 
Author
Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Dulau and Co; London.
Year
1898
ISBN
 
Description
Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Rather juicy[
464
Title
A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
Publication
 
Author
Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Dulau and Co; London.
Year
1898
ISBN
 
Description
Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The dark purple, globose fruit is around 7mm in diameter[
464
Title
A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
Publication
 
Author
Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Dulau and Co; London.
Year
1898
ISBN
 
Description
Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is used in teating certain irregularities of menstruation[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].

The leaves are astringent. An infusion is used as a wash in the treatment of ophthalmia[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

The leaves are rich in aluminium and are used as a mordant before dyeing. They are particularly used with sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan), in the Philippines for for example, when colouring the fibre of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera)[
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.
].

The wood is heavy, hard, strong and very flexible. It is used for purposes such as piles, axles etc[
975
Title
Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
Publication
 
Author
J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
 
Year
1886
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
We have no more specific information for this species, but in general the wood of Memecylon species is usually white to brown, very dense and heavy, sinking in water. It is also often very durable. Where the wood gets large enough it is often used traditionally for purposes such as poles, house posts, lumber and furniture[
1032
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1980
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this edition includes a revision of the Asian section of the genus Memecylon
].
The wood of many species in the genus has a high calorific value and is often favoured as a fuel and for making charcoal[
1032
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
Year
1980
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal, this edition includes a revision of the Asian section of the genus Memecylon
].

Propagation

Seed -
Air layering
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Memecylon+ovatum>

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