Common Name:

General Information

Miconia calvescens is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a spreading crown; it can grow to around 11 metres tall. The cylindrical, moderately straight bole can be free of branches for more than half its height and up to 25cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a fuel. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its large, attractive leaves which can be up to 70cm long, sweetly scented flowers and dark purple fruits[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia; C. America - Panama - Mexico.

Habitat

Abundant in lowland areas, growing in thickets or along the margins of rivers, in alluvial soils or dry loams; at elevations up to 135 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Miconia calvescens has become an invasive weed in several areas of the tropics. Every year the mature trees produce thousands of tiny fruits, which contain in total millions of seeds. Most long-range spread is caused by fruit-eating birds, though the seed can also be spread on shoes, equipment, etc, or on the hooves of ungulates. In Tahiti, for example, other than the larger trees that Miconia cannot overtop, entire hillsides are covered with this plant, which prevents the reproduction of native plants and eventually produces a monoculture of Miconia as the native plants die off[].

Edible Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the small, blue, purple or black fruits of many, if not all, species in this genus is edible[]. The fruit of this species is ovoid, pinkish-brown or yellow when mature, around 4mm in diameter[, ]. A sweet flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is a pale pinkish or dark brown; the sapwood pale white or light yellowish brown with a grayish cast, darkening somewhat on exposure. The texture is fine or medium, lustrous. The wood is of light to medium weight. It is easy to work, though it saws slightly woolly; it takes a smooth, fairly lustrous finish; liable to check in drying[].
The wood is sometimes used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?