Blood-red Melastoma

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blood-red Melastoma

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, it is categorized under the genus Melastoma, specifically as the species Melastoma sanguineum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution includes the island of Hainan as well as the China Southeast region. The species can also be found in Eastern Asia, specifically on the island of Taiwan. Moving into the Indo-China peninsula, it is documented to grow in Cambodia. Finally, its presence extends into the neighboring country of Laos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melastomastum sanguineum is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution, primarily inhabiting lowland regions. It is found within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 70 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 450 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 253.33 m AMSL, indicating a preference for relatively low-lying environments within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

450 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

253.333333333333 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

70 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Melastomastrum sanguineum are characterized by a specific karyotype that serves as a fundamental indicator of its cytogenetic profile. Central to its genomic structure is a chromosome number of 56, a quantitative trait that defines the reproductive and evolutionary complexity of the species. This chromosomal count plays a critical role in determining the plant's genetic stability and its capacity for meiotic processes during sexual reproduction. The presence of these 56 chromosomes influences the inheritance patterns of various morphological and biochemical traits, contributing to the overall genetic diversity and adaptive potential of the organism within its ecological niche.

Chromosome number :

56

Life history

The life history of Melastoma sanguineum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural growth patterns and life forms, the species exhibits characteristics consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte classifications, depending on the environmental conditions and the development of its woody stems. As a phanerophyte, it possesses sufficiently long stems to keep its buds above the soil surface, while its nanophanerophytic traits reflect a growth habit where the shoots remain relatively low to the ground. This dual potential in its life form allows the plant to adapt its stature in response to light availability and competition within its habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melastomastum sanguineum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically presenting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte, and it functions as a self-supporting plant without the need for climbing structures. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 4 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 4.125 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

4.125 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Melastomastoma sanguineum is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes. The leaf dimensions exhibit a wide range of growth patterns, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 4.5 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 9.83 cm. This variation in surface area is complemented by a corresponding fluctuation in leaf width, which ranges from a minimum of 1.7 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. These specific dimensions in length and width suggest a flexible photosynthetic capacity that allows the plant to optimize light interception and gas exchange across different developmental stages or environmental conditions.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.83333333333333 cm

Leaf length min:

4.5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.7 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melastomastum sanguineum is characterized by the production of berry-type fruits that play a crucial role in its life cycle. These fruits exhibit a specific size range, with a minimum length of 1.5 cm, a mean length of 1.85 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 2.2 cm. As the fruits are indehiscent, they do not open at maturity to release seeds, instead remaining intact to facilitate their dispersal. This plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to distribute its seeds throughout its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length max:

2.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.85 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Melastoma sanguineum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include RUTIN.

RUTIN

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials