(Melastomataceae) Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex Triana
Local name(s): ເບັນ ອ້າ, ເອັນ ອ້າ, ໝາກ ຂີ້ ຄ້ານ, ໝາກ ກາງ (ben ah, en ah, mak khee khan, mak kang)
Medicinal Use(s): treatment of stomachache.
Part(s) used: root
Field characters: Shrub, flowers pink, fruits green, turning brownish red with prominent covering trichomes. Common in open to semi-open areas.
Locality: Xieng Khoang Province, Kham District, Kham Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve, 15 km from Kham town.
Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen submontane forest. Edge of forest along the road.
Altitude: 1130 m asl
Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, K. Sydara, M. Xayvue
Collection number(s): DDS 14957
Collection Date: May 16, 2014
Additional information:
Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2313830.Synonyms, images, taxonomic description:
The Plant List Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 364, 365Useful references:
Samad NA, Nik Mohamed Kamal NNS, Yahaya N, et al. Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Aspects of Melastoma sp. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (eISSN 2636-9346), 2018, 14(SUPP1): 153-163. https://medic.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/2018121315323826_MJMHS_SUPP_2018.pdf
Susanti, D. Phytochemical and bioactivity studies of Melastoma malabathricum L. and Melastoma imbricatum Wall. Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, Faculty of Science, University Technology, Malaysia. December 2006; 203 pages.
Zheng W-J, Ren Y-S, Wu M-L, et al. A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of the Melastoma genus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2021, volume 264, 113322. ISSN 0378-8741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113322.