Indian Rhododendron

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian-rhododendron
• Malabar melastome

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Melastomataceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Melastoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across both the Indian Ocean and East Asia. Within the Western Indian Ocean region, its presence is documented in Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. Moving toward the Asian continent, the species can be found in South-Central China. Additionally, its range extends to the tropical island province of Hainan. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit different ecological zones across these distinct territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melastomastrum malabathricum is characterized by a versatile distribution across diverse landscapes, primarily thriving within savanna ecosystems, dense secondary shrublands, and ruderal vegetation. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal tolerance, allowing it to inhabit a wide range of vertical gradients. It can be found at low-lying areas starting from an elevation of 150 m AMSL, reaching significant heights up to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. Across its entire geographic range, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1475 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to both lowland and montane environmental conditions.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1475 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

Savanna, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Melastoma malabathricum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte, with its reproductive shoots elevated well above the ground, and a nanophanerophyte, depending on the specific environmental conditions and growth stage. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage to support continuous photosynthetic activity rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melastomastrum malabathricum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing or vining tendencies of lianas. The physical dimensions of the species vary significantly, with a minimum height of 0.5 m and a maximum height reaching up to 5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 1.875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

1.875 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melastoma malabathricum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, where leaves exhibit a mean length of 7.725 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. These leaves possess a variable width, with a mean measurement of 2.5 cm, spanning a range between a minimum of 1.4 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. Structurally, the foliage is quite delicate, maintaining a mean leaf thickness of 0.026 mm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategy, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil substrate.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.725 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.026 mm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melastoma malabathricum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that contain numerous small seeds. These seeds exhibit specific morphological dimensions, including a mean seed length of 0.6 mm and a maximum seed height of 0.3 mm and width of 0.4 mm. The seed volume varies, with a minimum of 0.05 mm³, a maximum of 0.067 mm³, and a mean volume of approximately 0.0607 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are quite lightweight, ranging from a minimum of 3.3e-05 g to a maximum of 7.1e-05 g, with an average seed mass of 5.6e-05 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

0.3 mm

Seed length mean:

0.6 mm

Seed mass max:

7.1e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

5.6e-05 g

Seed mass min:

3.3e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.067 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.0606666666666667 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.05 mm³

Seed width max:

0.4 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Melastoma malabathricum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. International journal of microbiology

Chemicals

Melastoma malabathricum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Antioxidant Activity, Flavonoids, methanol, quercitrin.

Antioxidant Activity

1. BioMed research international

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

methanol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercitrin

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Melastoma malabathricum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Melastoma malabathricum has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Escherichia coli, HBsAg, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, arthritis.

Escherichia coli

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hbsag

1. The Kobe journal of medical sciences

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Streptococcus agalactiae

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Arthritis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Blood clotting

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Nosocomial infections

1. International journal of microbiology

Opportunistic infections

1. International journal of microbiology

Osteosarcoma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Melastoma malabathricum has 10 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include cell suspension culture, chloroform, ethanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts, ethyl acetate.

Cell suspension culture

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Chloroform

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Ethanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Ethanol and aqueous extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethyl acetate

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Hexane

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Methanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Methanolic extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (uae)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Water

1. Journal de mycologie medicale