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Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Myrtales Family: Melastomataceae Genus: Melastoma

asian melastome

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect shrubs or small trees 1.5–5 m tall.

Stems: Branches and petioles densely covered with a mixture of short, appressed, laciniate scales 0.5–1 mm long and longer lanceolate scales 1.5–5 mm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite, decussate. Blades elliptic to elliptic–ovate, 4–11 cm long, 1.3–4 cm wide. Apex acute. Base obtuse to rounded. Upper surfaces strigose to scabrous; lower surfaces sericeous but with a mixture of scales on the nerves like those of the young branches. Margins entire. 5(–7)-veined. Petioles 5–12 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 2–7–flowered, pedicels 10–12 mm long in fruit, bracts and bracteoles elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate, 1–2.2 cm long, 0.5–1.3 cm wide, early deciduous. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Hypanthium densely covered with imbricate, lanceolate, ciliolate scales. Calyx 5-lobed, triangular–lanceolate, 0.7–2 cm long, deciduous. Corolla usually of 5 petals; petals pink, 2.5–3.2 cm long, 1.5–2.3 cm wide. Stamens twice as many as petals, dimorphic; anthers subulate, opening by a pore, connective of larger anthers prolonged ventrally; anthers of larger Stamens 10–11 mm long; anthers of smaller Stamens 8.5–10 mm long. Ovary inferior, distinct at apex but adnate to the inner hypanthial wall by (4)5(–7) septa, 5–7-celled, placentation axile; ovules numerous; style simple and terminated by a punctiform to capitate stigma.

Fruit: Berries 5–celled; 10–15 mm long; irregularly dehiscent. Seeds cochleate; 0.5–1 mm long; minutely punctate; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 56

Habitat: Mesic to wet areas and bog margins.

Elevation Range: 0–900 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (48)

Melastoma adpressum Benth. (1831)
Melastoma affine D.Don (1823)
Melastoma anoplanthum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma articulatum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma banksii A.Cunn. ex Triana (1872)
Melastoma baumeanum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma brachyodon Naudin (1850)
Melastoma caesium Bakh.f. (1943)
Melastoma calycinum Benth. (1842)
Melastoma candidum D.Don (1823)
Melastoma candidum f. albiflorum J.C.Ou (1976)
Melastoma candidum var. alessandrense S.Kobayashi (1984)
Melastoma candidum var. nobotan (Blume) Makino (1926)
Melastoma decemdentatum Kostel. (1835)
Melastoma ellipticum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma heterostegium Naudin (1850)
Melastoma holmanii Elmer (1919)
Melastoma hombronianum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma homostegium Naudin (1850)
Melastoma imbricatum var. longipes Craib (1931)
Melastoma jackianum Korth. (1844)
Melastoma lanaense Merr. (1908)
Melastoma macrocarpum Hook. ex Triana (1872)
Melastoma malabathricum var. adpressum C.B.Clarke (1879)
Melastoma malabathricum var. grandiflorum Craib (1931)
Melastoma malabathricum var. nanum F.M.Bailey (1912)
Melastoma malabathricum var. perakense King (1900)
Melastoma membranaceum Merr. (1909)
Melastoma nabotan Miq. (1866)
Melastoma nobotan Blume (1849)
Melastoma novae-hollandiae Naudin (1850)
Melastoma obvolutum Jack (1823)
Melastoma oliganthum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma parvifolium Merr. (1905)
Melastoma pinatubense Elmer (1934)
Melastoma pusillum Blume (1849)
Melastoma royenii Blume (1831)
Melastoma scabrum Ridl. (1918)
Melastoma sechellarum Naudin (1850)
Melastoma septemnervium Lour. (1790)
Melastoma setigerum Blume (1827)
Melastoma stenophyllum Merr. (1939)
Melastoma suave Bakh.f. (1943)
Melastoma tidorense Blume (1831)
Melastoma tondanense Blume (1849)
Melastoma warrineri C.B.Rob. (1911)
Osbeckia royenii Miq. (1840)
Trembleya rhynanthera Griff. (1854)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Bibliography

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:910 (K, H [as M. candidum]); Conant 1996:1/Conant 1998:1 (O); Staples et al. 2003:15 (Syn. M. candidum = M. septemnervium); Staples & Herbst 2005:396 (DESCR); Chen & Renner 2007/POWO 2025 (Syn. M. septemnervium = M. malabathricum subsp. malabathricum)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kalihi Valley Dense growth. Other plants in area: fiddlewood, strawberry guava, bamboo, Schefflera spp. Fairly shady & moist area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 3-12+ ft. high; lvs entire, elliptic/ovate ca. 5 in length, dense bristly hairs; parallel veins; flws lavender petals, no odor, open daytime - lasting a few days ?; many flowers in bloom now as opposed to very few in May or so. Few ripe fruits now. Conant, P. Oahu BISH 1995-07-19
2 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Maunawili, road access to BWS reservoir. Access road at end of Lopaka Way Road cut, fern, grass, rose-apple forest. Preserved_Specimen Bush (5-10 seen); 1 was 5', rest 3', round; trunk/stem 1 cm; fruiting, 1 diam., hairy; pecked by birds or rodents; seeds black. Rare. Fenstemacher, R. Oahu BISH 1996-06-17
3 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Tantalus area, A. Eaton residence at 3656 Tantalus Drive Growing in deep shade under Eucalyptus. Preserved_Specimen Single specimen, shrub +/- 5 m tall, with few flowers. Conant, P. Oahu BISH 1999-08-08
4 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Hanalei, powerline trail from Princeville toward Makaleha Mts with Metrosideros, Ilex, Psychotria, Nephrolepis, Dicranopteris, Clidemia hirta, Pterolepis glomerata, Schizachyrium condensatum; marshy over pale clay Preserved_Specimen 2-2.5 m tall x 4-5 m diam. shrub; petioles, stems, and main veins reddish brown; corolla rose pink, stamens yellow and pink; calyx greenish golden Lorence, D.H. 8449 Kauai BISH 1999-10-13
5 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Waiawa, along southern line of new Waiawa fence, on the side of the ridge Associated vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha, Dicranopteris linearis, Psychotria mariniana, Melicope clusiifolia, Kadua fosbergii, Angiopteris evecta, Syzygium sandwicense Preserved_Specimen Ching-Harbin, S. Oahu BISH 2019-05-28
6 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Koloa Dist: Lihue-Koloa Forest Revenue, jeep track from AAlexander Reservoir to base of Mt. Kahili, above Wahiawa Bog Rich wet forest with Metrosideros, Syzygium, & Cheirodendron Preserved_Specimen Shrub 1 m tall, petals light purple, stamens pink distally, filaments yellow. Naturalized & invasive weed. Lorence, D.H. 5577 Kauai BISH 1987-09-30
7 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Waihee Valley, past second gate on left off of jeep trail Mesic. Vegetation: Dillenia suffruticosa, Citharexylum. Preserved_Specimen 10 ft shrub with flowers and immature fruit. Leech, M. 1 Oahu BISH 2002-08-22
8 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Base of Kuilau Trail, Waikea near the Forestry Arboretum In a burned area. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-09-24
9 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Paukaa. Site 10 OS Hilo Forest Reserve Ohia-koa dieback. Soils deep and somewhat poorly drained ash type substrate is unknown. Primary vegetation: Acacia koa; Metrosideros polymorpha; Psidium cattleianum; Cheirodendron trigynum; Melastoma malabathricum; Clermontia sp. Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH 1979-06-20
10 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District This plant is very common under the closed `ohi`a canopy along the side of the dirt road and is scattered in other areas of the ahupua`a. Preserved_Specimen The plant was 2-3 meters tall. Yoshida, L. 79.037 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-23
11 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Puna, Hawaiian Acres, 9 Rd Metrosideros; new flow, disturbed Preserved_Specimen large shrub Palmer, R.E. 30038 Hawaii BISH 1997-07-30
12 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kalihi Valley Dense growth. Other plants in area: fiddlewood, strawberry guava, bamboo, Schefflera spp. Fairly shady & moist area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 3-12+ ft. high; lvs entire, elliptic/ovate ca. 5 in length, dense bristly hairs; parallel veins; flws lavender petals, no odor, open daytime - lasting a few days ?; many flowers in bloom now as opposed to very few in May or so. Few ripe fruits now. Conant, P. Oahu BISH 1995-07-19
13 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District This plant is very common under the closed `ohi`a canopy along the side of the dirt road and is scattered in other areas of the ahupua`a. Preserved_Specimen The plant was 2-3 meters tall. Yoshida, L. 79.037 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-23
14 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Below Mt. Wekia. Makaleha Mts., Distr. of Kawaihau Along grassy, exposed ridge. Preserved_Specimen Dense shrub 1.5 m ht. Nagata, K.M. 2874 Kauai BISH 1984-03-18
15 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Tantalus area, A. Eaton residence at 3656 Tantalus Drive Growing in dense shade under Eucalyptus tree ca 30 ft tall on hillside with various plants: impatiens, bamboos. Preserved_Specimen Shrub +/- 15 ft tall with few lavender-pink flowers. Sugiyama, L. Oahu BISH 1999-08-11
16 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Ca. 5.4 mi toward Kulani Prison Rd. toward Kula Prison from intersection with Kona-Hilo Hwy near Hilo. About 20 m. N (left of rd) into a jungle. Enter the jungle with a slight opening with a 3 meter tall Cibotium hawaiiense. (plot 36) Cibotium forest with scattered old Metrosideros. Preserved_Specimen Tree about 5 feet tall. Newell, C.L. 892 Hawaii BISH 1967-01-25
17 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Koloa Dist. headwaters of Wahiawa drainage, main branch On bottom of sloping bog. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 1.5 m tall, corolla pink. Wagner, W.L. 6280 Kauai BISH 1989-11-21
18 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Anauulu Rd., above Hilo On side of gully in sugar cane field. Preserved_Specimen Flowers are pink. Fosberg, F.R. 10490 Hawaii BISH 1933-12-07
19 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Hanamaulu, Power Line Rd Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m high, dbh 7.5 cm. Chock, A.K. 357 Kauai BISH 1952-02-03
20 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Along Stainback Hwy Preserved_Specimen Shrub about 10 ft. tall, with smooth brown bark; dull, dark green foliage; flowers with dark pink petals, yellow stamens. Herbst, D.R. 880 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-02
21 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kilohana Crater Preserved_Specimen Dominant shrub. Bryan Jr., E.H. 626 Kauai BISH 1928-08-07
22 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kilohana Crater; escaped from cultivation Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17297 Kauai BISH 1920-01-31
23 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Waikakea Forest Reserve; Mamaki Road to Kulani Prison, 7 mi SW of State Route 11 Preserved_Specimen Shrub 4 m tall; petals pink. Miller, J.S. 7944 Hawaii BISH 1992-08-06
24 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Along dirt rd., 2.1 mi NW of Wailua Experiment Station, Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve Preserved_Specimen Shrub 6 (?). Weedy, forming dense thickets. Ishikawa, S. 272 Kauai BISH 1973-08-20
25 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kukuau 2. Site 18 OS Hilo Forest Reserve Ohia wetland dieback. Soils composed of an organic/ash and are moderately shallow with poor drainage; found over a pahoehoe flow. Primary vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha; Acacia koa; Cheirodendron trigynum; Antidesma platyphyllum; Ilex anomala. Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH 1979-06-04
26 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kaumana Preserved_Specimen Flowers are pink. Suehiro, A. Hawaii BISH 1953-09-01
27 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Wahiawa Swamp, 4 mi. N of Kalaheo Preserved_Specimen Bush 10 feet tall at roadside. Petals pink; anthers yellow on shorter filaments & pinker on longer filaments; style white; younger stems dark red. Crosby, M.R. 1500 Kauai BISH 1964-06-20
28 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Honolulu, Kalihi Nursery, on grounds Preserved_Specimen 2 ft tall, few, along wayside. Seemed escaped. Heu, R. Oahu BISH 1995-05-23
29 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum S Hilo Distr. Along Saddle Rd, ca 17 km from Hilo just before the forest reserve. Some distance off the road Preserved_Specimen Herat, T. 698 Hawaii BISH 1974-06-22
30 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum 1955 flow Preserved_Specimen Gehring, P. 3004 Hawaii BISH 1966-01-24
31 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Hwy. H20, 4-5 mi outside of Hilo on Saddle Rd., west of Hilo Preserved_Specimen Young, D.A. 1655 Hawaii BISH 1979-01-19
32 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Komohona Preserved_Specimen Kami, R. Hawaii BISH 1979-11-05
33 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. Hawaii BISH 1933-06-08
34 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Saddle Rd., 3 mi from Hilo Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Hawaii BISH 1954-12-20
35 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum South Hilo District, Waiakea. Collected along Stainback Highway corridor Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1999-04-23
36 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Saddle Road 12 miles from Hilo Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Hawaii BISH 1954-12-20
37 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kauai Preserved_Specimen Duvel, A.H. Kauai BISH 1931-02-14
38 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kaumana Section, Hilo Abundant in waste places. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 2 m. tall. Flowers bright rose pink. Fosberg, F.R. 38649 Hawaii BISH 1956-09-19
39 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Koloa, Tree Tunnel Road bankside; Wedelia, uluhe Preserved_Specimen to 1 m shrub; melatome flowes, purple petal, yellow claws Trauernicht, C. 193 Kauai BISH 2007-10-10
40 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Under the closed Ohia canopy along the side of the dirt road and is scattered in other areas of the ahupua`a. Preserved_Specimen The plant was 2-3 meters tall. Yoshida, L. 79.037 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-23
41 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum 7 mi above Hilo on Saddle Rd Along road in low open Metrosideros scrub. Preserved_Specimen 1.5 m. tall; petals are bright rose. Fosberg, F.R. 41988 Hawaii BISH 1961-08-10
42 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Nene Rd., beyond airport, near coast E of Hilo Abundant in edges of dense scrubforest, dominated by Melastoma. Preserved_Specimen Tall shrub, 4-5 m tall, many stems from base. Rose color petals with 3 kinds of stamens; calyx circumscissile as fruit develops, placentae fleshy, red. Fosberg, F.R. 55658 Hawaii BISH 1975-03-14
43 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Ca. 7.4 mi up Kulani Prison Rd. toward Kulani Prison from intersection with Kona-Hilo Hwy near Hilo. About 2 m. from rd. is a lone tall Pritchardia palm (landmark). Plant was about 50 m into forest at left of rd. (plot 42) Metrosideros-Cibotium-Pritchardia forest community. Preserved_Specimen Shrub about 3 feet tall. Newell, C.L. 943 Hawaii BISH 1967-06-20
44 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Base of Kuilau Trail, Waikea near the Forestry Arboretum In a burned area. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-09-24
45 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kaumana Substation Disturbed vegetation on 1881 lava flow, vegetation open Metrosideros with understory of introduced shrubs and Dicranopteris. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4638 Hawaii BISH 1982-06-16
46 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Wailua Game Reserve, above Wailua, Kauai. Vegetation on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60 Stockpile of topsoil. Preserved_Specimen Shrub of 4 ft; slow invader of area; leaves slightly paler below; flowers pink-purple. Howard, R.A. 20173 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
47 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Koloa Dist.; Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve; Wahiawa Stream & drainage; NW of main Wahiawa Stream heading up unnamed tributary towards ridge connecting Hulua & Kapalaoa Peaks Low rich wet forest with Antidesma, Metrosideros polymorpha, M. waialealae, Syzygium sandwicensis, Tetraplasandra spp., Cheirodendron spp. & Psychotria spp. with understory of shrubs, ferns & Cyrtandra, becoming invavded by Psidium cattleianum. Preserved_Specimen Large shrub, densely branching, 1.5 m tall x 3-4 m across. Calyx & hypanthium green, petals deep purplish-pink, stamens yellow, staminal appendages pink. Agressive weed locally, naturalized & invading many clearings along stream. Lorence, D.H. 6704 Kauai BISH 1991-02-07
48 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Kalihi Valley Dense growth. Other plants in area: fiddlewood, strawberry guava, bamboo, Schefflera spp. Fairly shady & moist area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 3-12+ ft. high; lvs entire, elliptic/ovate ca. 5 in length, dense bristly hairs; parallel veins; flws lavender petals, no odor, open daytime - lasting a few days ?; many flowers in bloom now as opposed to very few in May or so. Few ripe fruits now. Conant, P. Oahu BISH 1995-07-19
49 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Waiakea Arboretum, Waiakea Forest Preserve. 5 miles S of Hilo Secondary forest. Preserved_Specimen Large shrub. Petals purple. Little Jr., E.L. 23045 Hawaii BISH 1968-06-02
50 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum S Hilo district: Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve. Along Stainback Hwy. at junction with Disappoinment Rd. (a southbound jeep track), 6.8 mi W of junction with N Kulani Rd Margin of wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 2 m tall. Flowers are pink. Lammers, T.G. 5423 Hawaii BISH 1983-09-02
51 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Along Stainback Hwy At lower elevations. Preserved_Specimen Shrub, about 10 ft. tall, wtih smooth brown bark; dull dark green foliage; flowers with dark pink petals, yellow stamens Herbst, D.R. 880 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-02
52 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Paukaa. Site 10 OS Hilo Forest Reserve Ohia-koa dieback. Soils deep and somewhat poorly drained ash type substrate is unknown. Primary vegetation: Acacia koa; Metrosideros polymorpha; Psidium cattleianum; Cheirodendron trigynum; Melastoma malabathricum; Clermontia sp. Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH 1979-06-20
53 Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum Along Stainback Hwy At lower elevations. Preserved_Specimen Shrub, about 10 ft. tall, with smooth brown bark; dull, dark green foliage. Flowers with dark pink petals, yellow stamens. Herbst, D.R. 880 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-02
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