Melastoma.
In Family Melastomataceae there are 50-70 species with 1 native to Australia.
Some species are very variable and there is still confusion as to what are species,
synonyms or varieties.
Many species have been cultivated.
They are shrubs or small trees.
Leaves, on short petioles, are lanceolate to oblong.
They have hairs on both surfaces.
There are 3 to 7 longitudinal veins and prominent cross veins.
Inflorescences are terminal or near the branch ends.
They can be solitary flowers or in small clusters.
There are large or small bracts and bracteoles.
Flowers have parts in 5’s or occasionally 6’s.
The hypanthium is urn or bell-shaped with scales or hairs.
The ovate sepal lobes on the rim may have teeth in between.
The obovate petals are white or shades or pink or purple.
There are usually twice as many stamens as petals.
They are almost always in 2 different forms with half longer than the others.
The longer stamens have a bi-lobed appendage from the connective tissue.
It can be 6 to 7 mm long.
Shorter stamens have no, or a smaller, appendage.
The linear anthers open via a terminal pore.
There are usually 5 locules in the ovary but this varies from 2 to 6.
There are hairs on the top of the ovary and a curved style.
Placentation is axile.
Fruit are small berries or capsules that open in various ways.
The small seeds have tiny nodules on the surface.
J.F.
