Vasilis Teodoridis:
Melastomataceae | Melastoma
3. Melastoma sanguineum Sims; Bot. Mag. 48: t. 2241. 1821.
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Shrubs 1.5-3 m tall. Stems; branches; petioles; pedicels; and calyces densely hirsute; trichomes basally flattened. Petiole 1-2.5(-4) cm; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate; (4.5-)8-15(-22) x (1.7-)2.5-5(-8) cm; stiffly papery; both surfaces strigose; secondary veins 2 on each side of midvein; base obtuse to rounded; margin entire; apex long acuminate to acuminate. Inflorescences terminal; corymbose; usually 1(or 3-5)-flowered. Pedicel 2-5 mm. Hypanthium 1-2 x 1-2 cm; trichomes sometimes retroflexed. Calyx lobes 5(-7); triangular to triangular-lanceolate; 6-12 x ca. 4 mm; strigose at ridges. Petals 5(-7); pink to purple; broadly obovate; (2-)3-5 x (1.5-)2-2.2 cm; apically oblique; apex emarginate. Longer stamens with anthers ca. 1.3 cm; connective long extended at base; curved; basal-adaxially with 2 lobes. Shorter stamens with anthers ca. 9 mm; connective not extended; basal-adaxially with 2 lobes. Ovary half inferior; densely setose. Fruit urceolate-turbinate; 1.5-2.2 x 1.5-2 cm; succulent; with stiff often retroflexed trichomes. Fl. all year; fr. Aug-Oct.
Open slopes; thickets; grasslands; woodland margins on low hills; trailsides; below 400 m. Fujian; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan [India; Indonesia; Malaysia].
In FRPS (53(1): 159. 1984); the name Melastoma penicillatum Naudin was misapplied to specimens of M. sanguineum from Hainan.