Scientific name Melastoma malabathricum Higher classification Melastoma | Genus Melastoma Rank Species | |
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Similar Melastoma, Melastomataceae, Melastoma affine, Clidemia hirta, Melastoma polyanthum | ||
Melastoma malabathricum, known also as Malabar melastome, Indian rhododendron and Singapore rhododendron (Malay: senduduk; Thai: โคลงเคลงขี้นก, khlong khleng khi nok) is a flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae.
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It is present in Indonesia, Japan, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It is usually found between 100 and 2,800 m on grasslands and sparse forests. It has been declared a noxious weed in the United States.
This plant has been used as a medicinal plant in certain parts of the world.
Melastoma malabathricum is a known hyperaccumulator of aluminium, and as such can be used for phytoremediation.
Yellow vented bulbul picking melastoma malabathricum fruits
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of the genus Melastoma requires a complete revision. Early genetics studies were published from 2001, through to recently, but a revision based on them has yet to be. In 2001 Karsten Meyer proposed a revision in which the species Melastoma affine and other species were subsumed within this species M. malabathricum.
In Australia, currently most authorities do not accept this; instead the naturally occurring populations in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and north eastern New South Wales remain recognised as M. affine, except by authorities in Queensland. Australian populations which occur as weeds, having different flowers, for example in Warraroon Reserve, Lane Cove, Sydney, further south than the natural distribution of M. affine, are introduced plants of this M. malabathricum L. species.