Melastoma
malabathricum subsp. malabathricum
L.
This native shrub
is commonly known as
black-mouth bush.
Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum
is described as a "dicot"
in the
Melastomataceae
family.
In the Queensland Nature Conservation Act it is classified as Least Concern.
Under the Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act it is not classified.
Accepted name in the Australian Plant Census is Melastoma affine. Leaves: Generally 3 distinct longitudinal veins and 2 less distinct intramarginal veins. Leaves hairy but thinner than Asian Melastome. Leaf stalks purple or white with short hairs. Flowers: Pinkish purple flower (also a white form). Five petals about 20-30mm long. Flowers all year round. Fruit: Red and green outside, purple on inside, hairy to 10mm.
Habit: Shrub 1-2 metres high, growing in moist areas such as gullies and freshwater wetlands. (http://www.lfwseq.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Land-for-Wildlife-Newsletter-July-2016.pdf) Regarded as a wetland species in Queensland WetlandInfo.
It has been recorded in the Wide Bay district in the Queensland Herbarium Census and is
listed as occurring in the Fraser Coast region in the Atlas of Living Australia.
Reported at 19 Fraser Coast localities: Dundowran Beach, Toogoom, Urraween, K'gari, Craignish, Poona, Beaver Rock, Bidwill, Teddington, Great Sandy Strait, Talegalla Weir, Tinnanbar, Magnolia, Tuan Forest, Boonooroo Plains, Wondunna, St Mary, Bauple Forest, Urangan.
Fraser Coast distribution based on field reports.
AVH
