Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke, Fl. Br. Ind. 2: 524. - Type: Wallich 4047, Malaysia, Penang, 1822 (K!).
Stem densely clothed with adpressed, ovate obtuse scales, leaves beneath with very small scabrous hairs, scales on the calyx tube flat ovate acute, calyx-teeth ovate acuminate hairy with within half-way down, fruit ovoid the margin at the top somewhat dilated.
Triana in Trans. Linn. Soc. 28: 60, but the syn. M. fasciculare Naud. is doubtful.
East Bengal; Griffith (Kew Distrib. No. 2242). Penang, Wallich; Tenasserim, Helfer (Kew Distrib. No. 2243).
Apparently very large. Leaves 8 in., broad-elliptic, acute; petiole 2 in. Flowers in terminal clusters of about 12; bracts not large. Fruit 1/4-5/8 in., ovoid.
2. Synonyms
- Melastoma magnificum Bakh. f., Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 91 (1943): 71. - Type: Atje 228, Telj Batoepon, Soelabesi, Soela Islands, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia (L!).
- Melastoma imbricatum var. laeve Bakh. f., Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 91 (1943): 72. - Type: Iboet 40, Siberoet, P. Siberoet, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia (L!).
3. Vernacular names
Sedudok ayer (Malaysia), Nim fa, Mo nim, Chu ku nim, Kai t’au kwo (Hainan).
4. Description
Shrub or small tree up to 3 m tall; young branches quadrangular, covered with appressed scales, bark brown-grey; older branches terete. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, large for the genus, c. 13.5--19.5(--26) x 4.5--8(--10.5) cm, base rounded or acute, apex acuminate; lamina strigose on both sides; nerves 5 or 7, covered with appressed small scales; petiole 1.5--5.5 cm long. Inflorescences dense terminal cymes, overtopped by young branches. Flowers 5-merous; bracts deciduous, obovate, c. 9 x 6 mm, outside covered with appressed small scales, inside glabrous. Hypanthium campanulate, (6--)8--10 x (6--)7--9 mm, covered with short appressed golden scales; sepals triangular, 4--5 x 2.5--3 mm (or lanceolate, c. 12 x 5 mm), outside covered with scales of the same type as on the hypanthium, inside glabrous; intersepalar emergences large scales, c. 2 mm long. Petals cuneate, c. 13 x 10 mm, ciliate along the margin, violet. Stamens dimorphic, anthers of longer outer stamens c. 8.5 mm long, violet, connectives c. 6.5 mm long, ventrally curved, with 2 ventral appendages c. 1.5 mm long, filaments c. 6 mm long; anthers of shorter inner stamens c. 7 mm long, yellow, connectives not prolonged, with 2 ventral appendages c. 1 mm long, filaments c. 6 mm long. Ovary as long as the hypanthium, crowned by bristles. Fruit a fleshy capsule, (7--)9--11 x (7--)8--11 mm, rupturing irregularly transversally at maturity, exposing the dark soft pulp with orange seeds.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - Australia (Northern Territories), China (Hainan), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines (Negros), Thailand, Vietnam.
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Ecology - Collections: 28. Growing in naturally or anthropogenically disturbed forests or along riverbanks at altitudes of up to 2000 m.
Notes - Melastoma imbricatum can be distinguished from M. malabathricum by its large leaves and the sylleptic shoots overtopping the inflorescence.
6. Collections
AUSTRALIA
- Martensz AE 302, c. 5 miles east of Nourlangie Rock, Northern Territory (L)
CHINA
- Lei 127, Foo Tan, Mei Maan, Ching Mai Distr., Hainan (SING, L)
- McClure CCC 9822, Hainan, near Nam Fung, Hainan, 250 m (C)
INDIA
- Griffith 2242, Kujoo, close to the Singphots (K)
INDONESIA
- Blume s.n., Java (P)
- Bünnemeyer 9329, Sumatra, West Kust, G. Koerintji, Sumatera Barat, 2000 m (L)
- Hansen 1211, Nangabulik, camp at logging road c. 25 km west of the village Sungai Buluh, Kalimantan Tengah, 275 m (C, MO)
- Hansen 1387, Kuala Kuayan, camp at logging road c. 9 km west of Pemantang logging camp, Kalimantan Tengah, 50 m (C)
- Krukoff 4040, Masihi Forest Reserve, Asahan, East Coast (MO)
- van Royen 7565, Vogelkop Peninsula, Isjon River valley
- Son village, Irian Jaya, 620 m (L)
- de Vogel 7407, Air Sirah on watershed above Padang, Barisan Range, Sumatera Barat, 1000 m (L)
MALAYSIA
- Clausing 112, Mt. Kinabalu, Tenom Peak, Sabah, 1600 m (Kinabalu N.P., SAN)
- Clausing 122, Danum Valley, Orchid Trail, Sabah (SAN)
- Corner SF 25826, Sg. Banum, Terenganu (SING)
- Elmer 20404, Tawau, Sabah (C, P, MO)
- Shah MS 1118, Maxwell’s Hill, 4th mile, Taiping, Perak, 600 m (SING, L)
- Shah MS 1123, Maxwell’s Hill, 4th mile, Taiping, Perak, 600 m (SING, C, L)
- Stone 15402, Maxwell Hill near base, Perak, 50 m (MO)
- Wallich 4047, Penang, Penang (K)
- Whitmore FRI 8579, S. Tembeling nr. K. Keniyum S. Redab, Pahang, 240 m (KEP, L)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
- Køie 1214, Mussau, Bismarck Archipelago (C)
PHILIPPINES
- Ramos BS 38915, Mt. Candoon, Bukidnon subprov., Negros Occidental (K, PNH, P, L)
- Ramos PNH 28537, Mt. Binuang, Tayabas (MO)
THAILAND
- Nimanong 40, Sang Khla, Kanchanaburi, (BKF, C, P, L)
VIETNAM
- Fleury 32384, Co Ba Le Forest Reserve, Nghé An (C, P)
- Poilane 13047, massif de Nui Biên près Cho Bo Brousse sol argileux, Tonkin, 500 m (C, P)
- Poilane 25035, entre Bao Nhai et Pakha, Tonkin, Lao Cai, 750 m (C, P)
- Poilane 25218, nord du Phu Lu au dessus de L. Chac, Lao Cai, 400 m (C, P).
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