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Melastoma malabathricum
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Family:
MELASTOMATACEAE
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Citation: Melastoma malabathricum L., Sp. Pl. 390. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 523. 1879; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 495(350). 1919; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 110. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 184. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 161. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 185. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 164. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 254. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 194. 1994; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 140. 1995; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 187. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 127. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 269. 1997; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 269. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 221. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 293. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 367. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Athirani, Kadali, Kalampotti, Kalathi, Mashikkai, Thodukkara
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Shrubs to 1.3 m tall; stem densely covered with paleaceous pectinate hairs. Leaves simple, opposite, 4-11 x 1.5-4 cm, elliptic-oblong, apex acute, base attenuate, upper surface prominently lineolate, lower surface tomentose, 5-ribbed, drying dull-greenish; petiole to 1.5 cm long. Flowers solitary or few in rather dense clusters, c. 5 cm across; bracts 1.2-2 x 1-1.4 cm, boat-shaped, densely paleaceous hairy. Calyx tube 0.7-1 cm long, campanulate; lobes 5, 5-7 x 4-5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, densely paleaceous hairy. Petals 5, reddish purple, 1.5-2 x 0.7 - 1 cm, obovate. Stamens 10, alternating ones large and small; anthers dimorphic, dehiscence by apical pores. Ovary ovoid, 5-locular; ovules many; style simple. Capsules 1-1.5 x 0.8-1 cm, ovoid, irregularly dehiscent; seeds many, minute.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Stream banks and marshy areas
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Distribution:
South East Asia
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Aquatic:
Yes
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Violet
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
Yes
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
400-700
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Localities:
Vazhachal, Kattalappara, Kulathupuzha, Aruvikkara, Ontangadi, Adoor, Taliparamba, Chandanathode, Kannoth, Periyarum, Parappa, Aroor, Nadugani ghats, Hereford, Kulathupuzha, Thenmalai, Koviltherimala
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