This introduced shrub
is commonly known as
Asian melastome.
Melastoma candidum
is described as a "dicot"
in the
Melastomataceae
family.
In the Queensland Nature Conservation Act it is not classified as it is not native to Queensland.
Under the Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act it is not classified.
Leaves: Generally 5 distinct longitudinal veins and 2 less distinct intramarginal veins. Leaves hairy but thicker and stiffer than Blue Tongue. Leaf stalks purple or white with long hairs. Flowers: More purple and a larger flower than the native Blue Tongue. Five petals about 25-32mm long.
Fruit: Bright raspberry red in colour. Habit: Grows to 2 metres high and is more dense and robust than the native Blue Tongue (http://www.lfwseq.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Land-for-Wildlife-Newsletter-July-2016.pdf).
It has been recorded in the Wide Bay district in the Queensland Herbarium Census but is not
listed as occurring in the Fraser Coast region in the Atlas of Living Australia.
Fraser Coast distribution based on field reports.
AVH
