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Miconia crenata (Vahl) Michelang.
| Family Name: | Melastomataceae |
| Synonyms: | Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don |
| Common Name: | Koster's Curse, 毛野牡丹 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial shrub. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Glossy, deeply veined leaves are ovate to oblong with crenate leaf margin (leaf edge lined with rounded teeth). Leaves have 5 major veins spreading from base to tip with numerous lateral veins that create ladder-like patterns. |
| Flowers | Small white flowers are composed of 5 petals with rounded to truncate tips. The sepals are fused at the base and covered with long, white hairs. |
| Fruit | Bluish-black berry is hairy and shaped like an egg. |
| Habitat | The native habit of this species is in grasslands, shrublands and riparian zones (along rivers). Outside of its native range, it is an invasive species that displaces native species and forms monocultures. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Recticulate |
| Foliar Margin | Crenate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 536 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1832 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
