Memecylon umbellatum
Burm.f.
Melastomataceae
Memecylon capitellatum tinctorium (Koenig ex Willd.) Blume
Memecylon edule ramiflorum (Desr.) Triana
Memecylon molestum (C.B.Clarke) Cogn.
Memecylon rubrocaeruleum Thwaites
Memecylon tinctorium Koenig ex Willd.
Samara laeta Auct.
Common Name:
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: AntanO
General Information
Memecylon umbellatum is a large evergreen shrub or a tree that usually grows from 8 - 15 metres tall[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
,
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its floral display[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Dry lowland forests[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. Coastal areas in the west of its range, inland in evergreen and semievergreen shrub[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in full sun or in partial shade[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. Grows best in a moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]. The bluish-black, globose fruit is around 7mm in diameter[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Medicinal
The bark is used to treat bruises[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The leaves are astringent. They are used internally in the treatment of gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
Used externally, the leaves make a cooling astringent wash and a lotion for treating conjuctivitis[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. When mixed with several other ingredients, the leaves make good fomentations for external use[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
An infusion of the flowers is used to treat inflammation of the conjuctiva[
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
The roots are astringent[
1033- Title
- Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants of Sri Lanka
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.instituteofayurveda.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site and comprehensive information resource, still being developed (2016), detailing the Ayurvedic medicinal uses of the plants of Sri Lanka
]. A decoction is used in the treatment of excessive or irregular menstrual discharge and menstrual pains[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
1033- Title
- Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants of Sri Lanka
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.instituteofayurveda.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site and comprehensive information resource, still being developed (2016), detailing the Ayurvedic medicinal uses of the plants of Sri Lanka
].
Other Uses
A yellow and a crimson dye can be extracted from the leaves and flowers. It can be used for dyeing cottons and woven goods such as mats[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
,
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
The wood is hard, strong, very flexible. It is used for piles, axles etc, building houses and boats[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
,
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
The wood is a good fuel[
975- Title
- Les Plantes Utiles des Colonies Françaises
- Publication
-
- Author
- J.-L. De Lanessan (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1886
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the useful plants of the Frech colonies towards the end of the 19th century. Many botanical names have changed, but the information remains valid and is often not easy to find elsewhwere. It can be downloaded from the Internet
].
We have no more specific information for this species, but in general the wood of Memecylon species is usually white to brown, very dense and heavy, sinking in water. It is also often very durable. Where the wood gets large enough it is often used traditionally for purposes such as poles, house posts, lumber and furniture[
1032- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 57
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition includes a revision of the Asian section of the genus Memecylon
].
The wood of many species in the genus has a high calorific value and is often favoured as a fuel and for making charcoal[
1032- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 57
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Botanic Gardens Park and Recreation Department; Singapore
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal, this edition includes a revision of the Asian section of the genus Memecylon
].
Propagation
Seed -
Air layering
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
