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Malabar melastome (Melastoma malabathricum)

Dlium Malabar melastome (Melastoma malabathricum)

Malabar melastome (Melastoma malabathricum) is a species of plant in the Melastomataceae, shrub, 0.5-4 m high, woody stem, sympodial branching and reddish brown, young branches scaly or densely hairy, taproot and brown, widely used as an ink material and traditional medicine.

M. malabathricum has single and stemmed leaves, oval, up to 20 cm long, up to 8 cm wide, pointed tip and base, flat edges, rough and hairy surface, dark green upper surface and bright green lower surface. A straight vein in the center and 2 curved veins at the edges.





Flowers throughout the year, compound, clustered at the ends of the branches and are bright purple in color, up to 5 cm in diameter, petals are attached, hairy, the tip is short from the base, the tip is tapered, the bracts are reddish purple.

The flower has 8-12 stamens, 3 cm long, a pistil, the ovary has 4-6 chambers, 5 petals, is oval and purple in color.

The fruit is ovoid, dark red skin and has many black seeds with arils, cup-shaped and 8 mm long. Ripe fruit is up to 11.5 mm long, up to 10.5 mm wide, the skin is broken, the mesocarp is bright purple and sweet.

This species grows wild in open areas with lots of sunlight or protected places, dry or damp soil, forest edges, bushes, ravine edges and vertical slopes, elevations up to 3000 meters.

This plant contains flavonoids, tannins, saponins, castalagin compounds, procyanidin B-2, helichrysoside, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, melastomic acid, sterols, ursolic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid.

The extract is used as an analgesic as a pain reliever, laxative, relieves swelling and stops bleeding. The extract is also used in the natural ink industry for purple color.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae
Subfamily: Melastomatoideae
Tribe: Melastomeae
Genus: Melastoma L. in Sp. Pl.: 389 (1753)
Species: Melastoma malabathricum L. in Sp. Pl.: 390 (1753)
Subspecies: Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum, Melastoma malabathricum var. mariannum (Naudin) Fosberg & Sachet, Melastoma malabathricum subsp. normale (D.Don) Karst.Mey.

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Melastoma malabathricum var. polyanthum Benth. in Fl. Austral. 3: 292 (1867)
Melastoma polyanthum Blume in Flora 14: 481 (1831)

PUBLICATIONS

Barooah, C. & Ahmed, I. (2014). Plant diversity of Assam. A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: 1-599. Assam science technology and environment council, India.

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2021). Flora of North America North of Mexico 10: 1-456. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.

Gyeltshen, P. & al. (2025). New records of flowering plants for the flora of Bhutan. Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 55: 88-102.

Karthigeyan, K., Pandey, R.P. & Mao, A.A. (eds.) (2023). Flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2: 1-689. Botanical Survey of India. Ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Sarder, N.U. & Hassan, M.A. (eds.) (2018). Vascular flora of Chittagong and the Chittagong Hill Tracts 2: 1-1060. Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka.

Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 13: 1-548. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

VERNACULAR NAME

Adi: Kechi-Yaying
Apatani: Pepu Yoyu
Arabic: مالابار ميلاستوم
Assamese: Phutkala, Phutuka
Bangka: Kedebik
Bengali: বন তেজপাতা - দাঁতরাঙ্গা - লুটকি - ফুটুল Bon Tejpata, Dantaranga, Lutki, Phutul
Brunei: Kuduk kuduk, Kemungting uman
Chinese (Simplified): 基尖叶野牡丹 - 多花野牡丹
Chinese (Traditional): 野牡丹 - 基尖葉野牡丹 - 多花野牡丹
English: Malabar melastome, Singapore rhododendron, Senduduk, Indian rhododendron, Planter's rhododendron, Senduduk
Filipino: Malatungau, Bubtoi, Yagomyum
French: Rhododendron de Malabar
Galo: Acha-Kaya, Raja
Garo: Bol Khakhu, Khakhuchi
Hebrew: מלאבר מלסטום
Hindi: फुत्की Phutki
Hong Kong: 野牡丹
Indonesian: Senduduk, Senggani
Italian: Rododendro indiano, Rododendro di Singapore
Japanese: コウトウノボタン - コウトウノボタン
Java: Senggani, Klurak
Jharua: Tokle-Gach
Kachari: Khusemphang
Kalimantan: Cengkodok
Kannada: Ankerki, Dodda Nekkare, Kenkarike
Karbi: Bit-Bit-Arong, Longle Bik Bik
Khasi: Dieng-Soh-Khing, Ka-Dieng-Kum, Syntew-Soh-Pydang
Kokborok: Murkong
Konkani: Nakeri
Korean: 말라바르 멜라스톰
Kuki: Leidum, Mulkong
Lepcha: Tungbram
Lotha: Chuthuksuru
Macao: 野牡丹
Madura: Kemanden
Malayalam: Athiatni, Kadali, Kalampotti, Kalathi, Thodukkara
Malaysia: Singapore rhododendron, senduduk
Manipuri: Nura Khudonglei, Yachubi
Marathi: Lakheri, Palore, Rindha
Mech: Thung-Khu
Melayu: Senduduk
Mizo: Bui-Lu-Kham
Nepali: एन्जरी - चुलेसी Angeree, Chulesee
Nyishi: De-Sengne, Dai-Hitey, Enchi
Odia: Gongei
Palauan: Matakui
Rongmei: Bobuchunmei, Longumpo
Russian: Меластома малабарская
Sanskrit: Tinisah
Sulawesi: Pakasua.
Sumatera: Senduduk, Sekeduduk, Keduduk
Sunda: Harendong
Tagin: Dai-Dasa
Taiwan: 基尖葉野牡丹
Tamil: கடலை - நக்கு-கே-கரப்பன் Katalai, Nakku-K-Karappan
Tangsa: Kengjang
Telugu: Nekkare, Nekkaresaelya, Pathudu
Thai: โคลงเคลง - มังเร
Tulu: Nekkare
Vietnam: Mua da hung, Mua se

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium
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