Melastoma malabathricum

Kigdom           : Plantae

(Hidayat & Abdurrahman, 2017)

Division           : Magnoliophyta

Classis             : Magnoliopsida

Ordo                : Myrtales

Familia            : Melastomataceae

Genus              : Melastoma

Species            : Melastoma malabathricum  L

Local Name
Harendong


Description

(Hidayat & Abdurrahman, 2017)

Singapore rhododendron is a spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree usually growing up to 2.5 metres tall, but with some specimens reaching a height of 5 metres. The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is locally cultivated as an ornamental. It is cultivated in Malaysia in caoutchouc plantations as a cover plant. Found in disturbed locations, on fallow land, or in grasslands from sea-level up to 3,000 metres. A plant of hot, wet, tropical lowlands. The subsp. M. malabathricum normale has a more northern distribution and is confined to higher elevations in tropical areas. Prefers an open, well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil. This plant can be a serious weed in pastures, pineapple and other crops on peat soils. It is also a serious weed in oil palm, rubber and coconut. Locally it can be a weed in cassava, sugar cane, tea and upland rice. Asia - Indian Ocean Islands throughout South and South-East Asia, Australia and South Pacific.

(Hidayat & Abdurrahman, 2017)

Benefit

The young shoots are eaten as a fresh or cooked vegetable. The plant is often used medicinally in Asia, where it is particularly valued for its astringent properties. A decoction of the leaves either alone or in combination with other plants, is used in the treatment of stomach aches, indigestion, diarrhoea dysentery, and leucorrhoea.

The ground up leaves are applied externally as a compress to cuts, wounds and swellings. A strong decoction of the leaves is applied painful arthritic joints, and also to weeping sores caused by stinging insect hairs in order to aid extraction of the hairs. It is also applied to other types of weeping wounds in order to disinfect them. A decoction of roots and leaves is given to women after childbirth The powdered leaves and roots may be sprinkled on wounds. They are also used in an application for haemorrhoids, apparently for their astringent properties. The roots are simply sucked or may be used for making a gargle in treating toothache.

This species is a pioneer plant with a high dispersal capacity. It can germinate and grow in fields of the noxious weed Imperata cylindrica, and finally smother this grass. Using this species as a pioneer, however, requires careful thought due to its ability to escape from cultivation and invade non-native areas. The fruit yields a black or purple dye. The leaves and roots yield a pink dye. The ashes from the plant can be used as a mordant. A tar obtained from the wood is used for blackening the teeth

Location in UPI
Lab. School UPI and UPI Main Gate