Melastoma dodecandrum Lour.
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma dodecandrum Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790): 274. - Melastoma repens Desr., Lam. (ed.), Encycl. 4 (1797): 54. - Osbeckia heteranthera Spreng., Syst. 2 (1825): 312. - Osbeckia repens, Cogn., DC (ed.) Prodr. 3 (1828): 142. - Type: Herb. Jussieu (P-JU, not seen).
Differ. spec. Mel. foliis 5-nerviis, integerrimis, glabris: floribus dodecandris.
Hab. & notae. Frutex pusillus, 10 pollices altus, erectus, laevis. Folia ovata, integerrima, glabra, 5-nervia, opposita. Flos coloris rosei, pedunculis paucifloris, terminalibus. Stamina 12, quorum 6 refracta, caudata: 6 alia interiora erecta, mutica, omnia fertilia. Bacca sub-rotundata, laciniis calycis coronata, 5-locularis, polysperma.
Habitat inculta in Cochinchina & Cantone Sinarum
Observ. A Mel. laevigata & discolore magis differt staminibus, quam foliis.
2. Synonyms
- Melastoma roseum Poir., Lam. (ed.), Encyc., Suppl. 3 (1814): 644. - Type: not designated.
- Melastoma octandrum L. ex Sm., Rees (ed.), Cyclop. 23 (1819): n. 67. - Type: not designated.
- Melastoma trungii Pócs & Tiep, Ann. Hist. Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 57 (1965): 167 - Type: Pócs 328, inter opp. Vinh et pag. Quy-chau, Nghia-dan, Nghe-an, Vietnam, 100 m, 28 Aug 1963 (BP, not seen).
3. Vernacular names
No vernacular names known!
4. Description
Creeping subshrub, to 30 cm high; young branches quadrangular, sparsely covered with appressed brown bristles, especially on the edges, bark brown; older branches terete, glabrescent. Leaves elliptic to ovate, sometimes slightly obovate, 1.0--5.0 x 0.8--0.7 cm, base rounded, acute or attenuate, apex rounded to acute, lamina glabrous on both sides except some appressed strigose bristles along the upper leaf margin, margin entire; nerves 3 or 5, glabrous; petiole 2--10 mm long. Inflorescence 1--2 flowers in upper leaf axils. Flowers 5-merous; bracts triangular or lanceolate, 2--5 x 2--3 mm, glabrous. Hypanthium campanulate, 3--5 x 2--5 mm, glabrous or covered with appressed, penicillate emergences, c. 1 mm long, crowned by 1--3 bristles c. 1 mm long; sepals deciduous, triangular, 2--5 x 1--3 mm, glabrous; intersepalar emergences penicillate emergences, c. 1 mm long, crowned by 1--3 bristles c. 1 mm long. Petals obovate, 10--14 x 7--8 mm, ciliate along the margin, purple. Stamens dimorphic; longer outer stamens with c. 5 mm long anthers and c. 4--5 mm long filaments, connectives c. 5 mm long, ventrally curved with two 1--2 mm long ventral lobes at the base; shorter stamens with 4 mm long anthers and 3--4 mm long filaments, connective not prolonged but ventrally bilobed, lobes c. 0.8 mm long. Ovary adnate to the hypanthium for c. 2/3 of its lenght, crowned by bristles. Fruit a berry, 3--7 x 3--7 mm.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - North Vietnam (Phu Bo, Tonkin), South China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Fujian), Hongkong
Click to get a larger map. Map made with Online Map Creation.
Ecology - Collections: 37. In open, dry or wet grassland and scrub up to 800 m altitude.
Notes - This is the only creeping species of Melastoma. In its fruit type and indumentum of leaves and branches it is close to the other baccate species.
6. Collections
CHINA
- Callery 247, Macao (P)
- Cavalerie 1711, Kouy-Tcheou (P)
- Chen 2747, Dingloh, Fujian (SING)
- Chiao 14176, Taichow, Zhejiang, 60 m (SING)
- Chiao 14193, Tientai Shan, Kwoh Ching Sze, Zhejiang, 500 m (C)
- Ching 1910, South of Ping Yung, Zhejiang, 175 m (P)
- Chung 273, Amoy Islands, top of Nanputo hill, Fujian (BK)
- Chung 381, Amoy Islands, hill to the north of Nanputo hill, Fujian, (BK)
- Debeaux s.n., Mt. Victoria, Hongkong, 300 m (P)
- Didrichsen 3212, Hongkong (C)
- Didrichsen s.n., Whampoo, Guangdong (C)
- Fan 2, I-Chia-Ao, Changning Hsien, Hunan, 200 m (P)
- Handel-Mazzetti 10697, Duyun, Guizhou, 800 m (C)
- Schindler 397 pp, Tal des Lung kiang, Kreis Nan ching, Süd-Fukien, Fujian, 50 m (P)
- Sonnerat s.n., Macao (P)
- Tang 4142, Foochow and vicinity, near YMCA retreat, Fukien (C)
- Tsang 21024, De Keuk Ue, Tai Mo Shan, Tapu Distr., Guangdong (P)
- Tsang 22331, Shap Man Taai shan, near Hoh Lung village
- southeast of Shang-sze, Shang-sze Distr., Guangdong border, Guangxi (P)
- Tsang 22496, Tei Keung Nim Tang
- Shap Man Taai Shan, near Hoh Lung village
- southeast of Shang-sze, Guangdong border, Guangxi (BM, P)
- Tsang 26623, Na Leung and vicinity, Fang Ch’eng Distr., Guangxi (C, P)
- Tsang 26809, Kung P’ing Shan and vicinity, T’aan Faan, Fang Ch’eng Distr., Guangxi (C, P)
- Tsui 313, Wan Tong Shan, Ying Tak Distr., Guangdong (P)
- Tsui 549, South of Linchow, Yang Shan Distr., Guangdong (SING, P)
- Vahl s.n. (C)
- Vahl s.n. (C)
- Wang 226, circa carbonis minas Pinghsiang, Jiangxi, 600 m (C)
- Yao 9267, Dagangshan, Fenyi, Jiangxi, 350 m (P)
VIETNAM
- Anonymus s.n., Bac Thai, Dai Tu, Kyphu, Thai Nguyen (HNU)
- Balansa 1423, bords du ruisseau de Ounbi, au nord de ce village (P)
- Balansa 1425, collines schisteuses situees au nord de Haiphong, Quang Ninh (P)
- Lecomte 704, Phu-Doon á Bhou-Ba, Tonkin (P)
- Ng.V. Manh s.n., Bac Thai, Dai tu, Xa My Yen, Thai Nguyen (HNU)
- Petelot 1015, Phu Tho, Vinh Phu (C, P)
- Petelot 2101, Pagode de Soc Son, Bac Thai (P, HNU)
- Petelot 4883, bord de la route entre Chri Nguyen et Phan Ne, Chri Nguyen (P, HNU)
- Tsang 29988, Sai Wong Mo Shan (Sai Vong Mo Leng), Lung Wan Village, Dam-ha (SING, C, P)
- Tsang 29101, Taai Wong Mo Shan, near Chuk-phai Ha-coi (SING, C, P)
Last Page: Introduction to Melastoma. Next Page: Index of scientific names of Melastoma.