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Pternandra coerulescens

Family

Melastomataceae

Botanical Name

Pternandra coerulescens Jack

Jack, W. (1822) Malayan Miscellany 2(7): 61. Type: Native of Pulo Pinang..

Synonyms

Ewyckia cyanea Bl., Flora 14: 525(1831), Type: Moluccas, Zippel s.n.; holo: L. Fide Maxwell (1981) Gard. Bull. Singapore 34: 35. Pternandra cyanea (Blume) Triana, Transactions of the Linnean Society, London 28: 153(1871), Type: ?.

Common name

Cursed Shade

Stem

A small tree not exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leaves

Stipules absent but scars resembling stipular scars present on the twigs between the petioles. Leaf blades 3-nerved, about 7-10 x 3.5-5 cm, glabrous. The minor lateral veins form an intramarginal vein very close to the margin of the leaf blade. Young leaves purplish in colour. Petioles narrowly grooved on the upper surface. Leaf blades rather brittle, cracking transversely when folded.

Flowers

Inflorescences shorter than the leaves. Calyx covered with a tuberculate pattern of scales, calyx lobes small. Petals about 2-6 x 2-4 mm. Staminal filaments flattened, about 2-4 mm long. Style slender, straight, about 4-7 mm long.

Fruit

Infructescences shorter than the leaves. Fruits globular, about 10 x 10 mm. Calyx lobes and style persistent at the apex. Seeds very numerous, about 1 x 0.5 mm.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in NT and CYP. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 100 m. Grows in rain forest and gallery forest near permanent water in swampy or waterlogged soil conditions. Also occurs in SE Asia and Malesia.