Parijata (Medinilla speciosa)

Parijata (Medinilla speciosa) is a species of plant in the Melastomataceae, shrub, erect, up to 200 cm tall, woody stems and branching, cylindrical, brown and young green stems.

M. speciosa has thick leaves, up to 20 cm long, 15 cm wide, dark green and shiny upper side, five veins with a vein in the middle and four veins curved on the sides, pointed tip and flat margins.

The small flowers are bright red and produced in large panicles on reddish stems. The fruit is round, bright red or white in color and turns purple-blue when ripe.

This species prefers shady and moist soil at elevations of 300-1000 meters. This plant is used as a traditional medicine by boiling, brewing or consuming it directly. Fruit consumed by pregnant women as a health supplement, diarrhea medicine, thrush, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae
Subfamily: Melastomatoideae
Tribe: Dissochaeteae
Genus: Medinilla
Species: Medinilla speciosa

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