straits rhododendron (melastoma malabathricum): info fact sheet, photos

Sitemap

List of birds
on this site

List of plants
on this site

List of animals
on this site

My homepage

Straits Rhododendron
Melastoma malabathricum
Sendudok (Malay)

green pigeon in a melastoma bush

This showy bush rapidly colonises wastelands as their seeds are dispersed by birds. As such, the Straits Rhododendron is often considered a weed.

The beautiful flowers last only one day, opening after sunrise, closing the same day, with the petals falling off on the a few days later. The flower has two different kinds of stamens.

The seeds are tasteless and can be eaten, but stains the tongue black. In fact, the word melastoma is Greek for "black mouth".

Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park

Main features: Average 1m but may grow up to 3m tall. Stems: reddish, covered with small rough scales. Leaves: Simple, narrow with 3 prominent longitudinal veins. Bristly underside. Flowers: Five petals; dark purple to pinkish; on rare occasions, white. Fruits: Oval with purple pulp; contains many tiny seeds.

Status in Singapore: Common. World distribution: Madagascar, India to Australia. Very common in Southeast Asia. Classification: Family Melastomataceae.

Uses: The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked and taste sour. The pulp around the seeds can also be eaten (Indonesia). The seeds are used to produce a black dye, the roots, a pink dye. In some places, the leaves are fed to silkworms.

Traditional medicinal uses: Leaves are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery (Malaysia, Indonesia); wash for ulcers, to prevent scarring from smallpox; and to treat piles.

Role in the habitat: The fruits are the favourites of birds like the flowerpeckers and doves which also disperse the seeds. Squirrels and monkeys are also fond of the fruits. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea). Being among the first to colonise wasteland, the plant helps prevent soil erosion and to allow regeneration of vegetation in such places.

LINKS

Bat Conservation International Products derived from plants visited by bats: Uses of various parts of the plant.
Tropical Flowers of the Singapore Botanic Garden by James Teiw: brief facts, photos.
Guide to the Wildflowers of Singapore, online version on the Singapore Science Centre: fact sheet, drawings, photos.

REFERENCES

To buy these references & others, visit
Nature's Niche

Ivan Polunin, "Plants and Flowers of Singapore", Times Editions, 1987 (p. 98: description, habitat, distribution, photo).
Wee Yeow Chin, "A Guide to Medicinal Plants", BP Singapore Science Centre, 1992 (p. 100: description, chemical compounds, uses, photo).
E. J. H. Corner, "Wayside Trees of Malaya: Vol II", Malayan Nature Society, 4th ed., 1997 (p. 484-486: description, habit, distribution).

By Ria Tan, 2001