Memecylon pauciflorum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae
Genus: Memecylon
Species:
M. pauciflorum
Binomial name
Memecylon pauciflorum
Synonyms[1]

Memecylon pauciflorum is a tree species in the Melastomataceae family. It grows as a tree or shrub in northern Australia and tropical and subtropical Asia. An understorey species typically, it grows in a variety of communities. The possum Petropseudes dahli (rock-haunting possum) uses this species as one of their scent-marking sites. It is a host to a number of funguses. People in Australia and in Thailand use the plant in folk medicine, though no efficacy has been demonstrated.

Description

This plant grows as a tree or shrub, some 1-10m tall,[2][3] with a trunk that does rarely exceeds 30cm d.b.h.[4] Many-branched, with smooth 4-sided branches. Leaves are around 3-7 by 1-3cm in size, with lateral veins barely visible on upper surface, but making inconspicuous loops or an intramarginal vein quite close to the margin, there are small oil dots visible at low magnification (e.g. with hand lens); stipules are absent, but scars are visible on twigs between petioles that resemble stipule scars; the upper surface of petiole is grooved. Inflorescences are shorter than leaves. Small pink/green flowers,[2] about 2mm long petals; eight stamens; the anthers have a long spur at the base, which has a raised gland on opposite side to filament attachment. Globular, or depressed globular, fruit, some 6-8 by 8-9mm in diameter; persistent calyx at apex. Globular seeds, some 4-5 by 5-6mm in diameter. A seed weighs about 130mg.[5] Green cotyledons that are crumpled and folded many times, more or less semiorbicular in seedling, some 16-20 by 15-30mm; shortly petiolate; stipules on cotyledons usually visible; winged hypocotyl. The glabrous leaves are linear and narrowly elliptic to elliptic at tenth leaf atage; usually visible stipules or stipule-like structures. The germination time of seeds is from 20 to 63 days. In the Kimberley, Western Australia it flowers in January and February or in April.[2] In Zhōngguó/China it flowers in April and May, with fruiting occurring in November.

Characteristics that distinguish it from other Memecylon species in China are: that it is a shrub or small tree (less than 6m tall); the blade of the leaves are some 3.5-8 by 0.6-3.5 cm in size; the blade of the leaf is some 1.4-3.2 times as long as it is broad with a base not decurrent on petiole; the anther is connected abaxially with a circular concave gland; smooth and glossy leaf blade on both surfaces; fruit is not ribbed; cymose inflorescences; and again on both surfaces the leaf blade is glabrous and glossy.[3]

Taxonomy

Title page of Blume's Museum botanicum Lugduno-Batavum, sive, Stirpium exoticarum novarum vel minus cognitarum ex vivis aut siccis brevis expositio et descriptio

This species has been identified by molecular phylogenetics using nuclear ribosomal DNA as being in a Malesian/Southeast Asian/Chinese clade with Memecylon caeruleum, Memecylon cantleyi, Memecylon lilacinum, Memecylon plebujum, and Memecylon scutellatum.[6]

This species was first described in 1851 by the Braunschweig-born botanist Carl Ludwig Blume (1796-1862).[7] He spent his working life in now Indonesia, then the Dutch East Indies, where he was at the now Bogor Botanical Gardens, and in the Netherlands, where he was at the then Rijksherbarium, Leiden, now the Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden. He published a description of the plant in 1850, however the 1851 description in his work Museum botanicum Lugduno-Batavum, sive, Stirpium exoticarum novarum vel minus cognitarum ex vivis aut siccis brevis expositio et descriptio is held to be authoritative.on Botanicus[7]

Distribution

This species is native to an area from northern Australia to tropical and subtropical Asia.[1] Countries and regions in which this taxa grows are: Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (Hainan, Guangdong);[3] Laos; Myanmar; Bangladesh; India (Andaman Islands). In Queensland, the tree/shrub occurs from southeastern region to the central- and north-east and Cape York Peninsula.[4] In Western Australia it is found in the northern Kimberley.[2]

Habitat, ecology

In Australia M. pauciflorum grows from near sea level to 400m elevation.[4] It is found as an understory tree in monsoon-, drier or more seasonal rain-, open- and littoral-forests and in woodlands. In the Kimberley, Western Australia, it grows on sandy soils, in sandstone gorges.[2] In China it is found in forests and mountain slopes.[3]

A publication of Queensland Herbarium on the broad vegetation groups present in that state of Australia includes a number of communities that include the species.[8] The following table summarises the information.

Broad Vegetation Groups in Queensland that include M. pauciflorum[8]
Broad Vegetation GroupsubgroupBioregionMean annual rainfallSoilsEmergentsCanopyLayer that includes M. pauciflorum
2 Complex to simple, semi-deciduous mesophyll to notophyll vine forests, sometimes with Araucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine)2b Semi-deciduous mesophyll to notophyll vine forests usually on granitic rangesCape York Peninsula1200-2000mmYellow kandosols, yellow dermosolsAraucaria cunninghamii sometimes present to 30mCanarium australianum, Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, Buchanania arborescens, Antiaris toxicaria var. macrophylla, Sterculia quadrifida, Acacia auriculiformis, A. polystachya, Aidia racemosa, Albizia lebbeck, Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, Dysoxylum acutangulum, Maranthes corymbosa, Myristica insipida, Polyscias elegans, Terminalia subacroptera, 20mlow tree/shrub layer
2 Complex to simple, semi-deciduous mesophyll to notophyll vine forests, sometimes with A. cunninghamii2c Semi-deciduous notophyll vine forests to simple evergreen notophyll vine forests, frequently with Welchiodendron longivalve on northern Cape York PeninsulaCYP1600-2000mmYellow and red kandosolsrareW. longivalve, Acacia polystachya, Canarium australianum, Buchanania arborescens, Endiandra glauca, Alstonia actinophylla, A. spectabilis, Blepharocarya involucrigera, Sterculia quadrifida, Planchonella chartacea, Sersalisia sericea, Flindersia ifflaiana, Syzygium forte, Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, Podocarpus grayae, Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, Cryptocarya cunninghamii, Halfordia kendack, 17mmid-dense shrub/ low tree layer
3 Notophyll vine forests/ thickets (sometimes with sclerophyll and/or Araucarian emergents) on coastal dunes and sand masses3a Evergreen to semi-deciduous, notophyll to microphyll vine forests/ thickets on beach ridges and coastal dunes, occasionally A. cunninghamii microphyll vine forests on dunesCYP, Gulf Plains, Wet Tropics, Central Queensland Coast>1200mmAeric podosols, semiaquic podosols or bleached-orthic tenosolsA. cunninghamii, occasionally, 25mTerminalia muelleri, Manilkara kauki, Mimusops elengi, Pleiogynium timoriense, Gyrocarpus americanus, Sterculia quadrifida, Buchanania arborescens, Acacia polystachya, Celtis paniculata, Acacia crassicarpa, Syzygium forte, Drypetes deplanchei, Canarium australianum, Pandanus tectorius, Cupaniopsis anacardioides, 10msparse shrub/low tree layer
5 Notophyll to microphyll vine forests, frequently with Araucaria spp. or Agathis spp. (kauri pines)5b Notophyll to microphyll vine forests, frequently with A. cunninghamii, on ranges of central coastal bioregionsCentral Queensland Coast, Wet Tropics1200-2000mmRed ferrosols, red and brown DermosolsA. cunninghamii, sometimes, >18mArgyrodendron polyandrum, Falcataria toona, Dendrocnide photiniphylla, Cryptocarya hypospodia, C. bidwillii, C. triplinervis, Diospyros hebecarpa, Pleiogynium timoriense, Macropteranthes fitzalanii, Terminalia porphyrocarpa, Flindersia schottiana, Drypetes deplanchei, Euroschinus falcatus, Cleistanthus dallachyanus and Olea paniculatasparse low tree/ shrub layer
5 Notophyll to microphyll vine forests, frequently with Araucaria spp. or Agathis spp. (kauri pines)5c Simple to complex notophyll vine forests, often with Agathis spp. on ranges and uplands of the Wet Tropics bioregionWet Tropics, Einasleigh Uplands1600-3000mmRed and brown dermosols, red ferrosolsAgathis robusta, frequent, 35mArgyrodendron polyandrum, Falcataria toona, Aleurites moluccanus, Cryptocarya triplinervis, Ficus benjamina, Flindersia schottiana var. pubescens, Linociera ramiflora, Pleiogynium timoriense, Polyalthia nitidissimamid-dense subcanopy and low tree layer
7 Semi-evergreen to deciduous microphyll vine thickets7b Deciduous microphyll vine thickets on ranges and heavy clay alluvia in northern bioregions (CYP alluvial clays)CYP, Wet Tropics1200-2000mmYellow and brown dermosols, brown or grey vertosols, dermosolic oxyaquic hydrosolsLagerstroemia engleriana, Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, Eucalyptus microtheca, up to 25mLagerstroemia engleriana, Strychnos lucida, Diospyros hebecarpa, Croton arnhemicus, Larsenaikia ochreata, Memecylon pauciflorum, 5-10m(-18m)canopy layer
7 Semi-evergreen to deciduous microphyll vine thickets7b Deciduous microphyll vine thickets on ranges and heavy clay alluvia in northern bioregions (CYP rocky slopes and ranges)CYP, Wet Tropics1200-2000mmOrthic or bleached-leptic tenosols, brown dermosols, yellow kandosolsGyrocarpus americanus. Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, frequent, 12-5mCochlospermum gillivraei, Canarium australianum, Croton arnhemicus, Terminalia muelleri, Acacia polystachya, Gyrocarpus americanus, Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum, 5-12msparse to mid-dense shrub layer
Petropseudes dahli (rock-haunting possum)

The possum Petropseudes dahli (rock-haunting possum), uses this tree as a deposit for scent.[9] Ten tree species, rocks and termite mounds were used for scent-marking. The scent is emitted by caudal glands on individuals rumps, cloacal secretions are possibly also involved. The secretion is orange-coloured, molasses-like in texture and has a sweet, musky odour, that humans can smell up to 50m away.

In the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park area (Langkawi, Malaysia), the plant grows in association with mangrove forests, it is moderately abundant.[10]

It is a host to the following taxa: the pathogenic fungi Botryosphaeria purandharensis and Mycosphaerella multiloculata, and other fungi Acrocordiella occulta, Lecideopsella gelatinosa and Meliolina memecyli.[5]

Vernacular names

Uses

In the traditional medicine of the Kuuku I’yu (Northern Kaanju) or Kaanichi Pama, the people of the inland highlands of central Cape York Peninsula, northeast Australia, the plant is used to treat skin infections and inflammations.[12] Enzyme inhibitory activity, antiglycation activity and antioxidant activity of the species leaf extract was assessed and found not to be significant.

The Karen people of northern and western Thailand use the species in their ethnomedicine. A decoction of the leaves is drunk as treatment for muscle pain.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Memecylon pauciflorum Blume". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Memecylon pauciflorum Blume". FloraBase: the Western Australian Flora. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Chen, Jie; Renner, Susanne S. "8. Memecylon pauciflorum Blume, Mus. Bot. 1: 356. 1851". Flora of China. eFloras.org. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Memecylon pauciflorum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Memecylon pauciflorum Bl". Encyclopedia of Life. eol.org. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Stone, Robert Douglas (2014). "The species-rich, paleotropical genus Memecylon (Melastomataceae): Molecular phylogenetics and revised infrageneric classification of the African species". Taxon. 63 (3, June): 539–561. doi:10.12705/633.10.
  7. 1 2 "Memecylon pauciflorum Blume, Mus. Bot. 1(23): 356 (1851)". International Plant Name Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. 1 2 Neldner, V.J.; with four others (2019). The Vegetation of Queensland: Descriptions of Broad Vegetation Groups: Version 4.0 (PDF). Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation.
  9. ↑ Runcie, Myfanwy Jane (2002). Behaviour and Ecology of Tropical Rock-possums: the Rock-haunting Possum, Petropseudes dahli and the Scaly-tailed Possum, Wyulda squamicaudata: Ph.D. thesis. Darwin: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences Northern Territory University. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Nabila, G. Fatheen; Faridah-Hanum, I.; Kudus, Kamziah Abd; Nazre, M. (2012). "Assessment of Floristic Composition of Kilim Geoforest Park, Langkawi, Malaysia". Journal of Agricultural Science. 4 (3): 23–34. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Lokkers, Con (2000). Survey of coastal vegetation in Council reserves at Horseshoe Bay: Earthworks Report 00c01a to Townsville City Council October 2000 (PDF). Townsville, Queensland: Earthworks Environmental Services Pty Ltd. p. 13. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Deo, Permal; with seven others (2016). "In vitro inhibitory activities of selected Australian medicinal plant extracts against protein glycation, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and digestive enzymes linked to type II diabetes". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 16x (435): 435. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1421-5. PMC 5095981. PMID 27809834.
  13. ↑ Kantasrila, Rapeeporn; with five others (2020). "Medicinal Plants for Treating Musculoskeletal Disorders among Karen in Thailand". Plants. 9 (811): 27pp. doi:10.3390/plants9070811. PMC 7412036. PMID 32605228. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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