Miconia nervosa

Family

Melastomataceae

Botanical Name

Miconia nervosa Triana

Triana, J.J. (1871) Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 28(1): 111. Type: .

Common name

Miconia

Weed

*

Stem

Scrambling shrub to 3 m tall.

Leaves

Leaves to 25 cm long, covered with long, dense pinkish hairs. Undersurface paler green. The prominent mid vein is joined by two arching main veins just above the leaf base and meet at the leaf tip. Intramarginal vein also present. Lateral veins (between three main veins) at 90 degrees.

Flowers

Flowers in terminal panicles. Flowers ca. 5 mm long; petals white; stamens 10, yellow.

Fruit

Immature fruit orange, turning blue-purple when ripe. Each fruit may contain up to 200 tiny seeds.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

An introduced species declared a Class 1 invasive weed, originally from Central and South America but now rarely naturalised near Whyanbeel, Mossman. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 100 m. Grows in rainforest including in deep shade.

Natural History

Because of the significant threat to Australian rainforests posed by this species considerable effort is being undertaken to eradicate all known plants. Contact the DPI&F Information Centre phone (13 25 23) for more information.

Shrub (woody or herbaceous, 1-6 m tall)

X

RFK Code

3584