Melastoma malabathricum: Unveiling the Beauty of Creeping Raspberry

Melastoma malabathricum, also known as Indian Rhododendron, Melastoma, Creeping Raspberry, or Ploughshare, is a shrub that grows up to about 1 meter tall.

It belongs to the Melastomataceae family and is commonly found in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong to Taiwan and southward.

It is characterized by a cylindrical or nearly quadrangular stem with several branches and covered with closely adhered scale-like rough hairs.

The leaves are firm, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or nearly elliptical with a gradual tip and a round or nearly wedge-shaped base.

Its petals are pink to red, rarely purple-red, and are inverted-ovate in shape. The flowering period is from February to May while the fruiting period is from August to December.

Physical Characteristics

The shrub grows up to about 1 meter tall, with a cylindrical or nearly quadrangular stem that branches frequently. The leaves are firm, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or nearly elliptical, with a gradual tip and a round or nearly wedge-shaped base.

The inflorescence is nearly head-shaped with more than 10 flowers, with a leaf-like bract at the base. The petals are pink to red, rarely purple-red, and are inverted-ovate in shape.

Growth Environment

Melastoma malabathricum thrives at altitudes from 300 to 1830 meters on hill slopes, under forest canopies or under sparse forests, in moist or dry places, under bamboo forests, among shrubs, or along roadsides and ditches.

Distribution Range

This plant is found in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong to Taiwan and southward, and also in the Indochina Peninsula to Australia, and south of the Philippines.

Main Value

Medicinal Value

Melastoma malabathricum is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its properties in eliminating phlegm, astringing to stop bleeding, dispersing stasis and reducing swelling.

It is used to treat indigestion, enteritis, diarrhea, dysentery, and wounds from knives and guns. The roots can be decocted in water for internal use, and when combined with pepper, it can stimulate labor, hence its nickname “Birth-promoting Medicine”.

Edible Value

The fruit of Melastoma malabathricum is edible.