About Melastoma sanguineum Sims
Melastoma sanguineum Sims is an erect shrub or small tree that reaches 2 to 4 meters in height. Its leaves are ovate-lanceolate and 10 to 20 centimeters long. This species produces berry-shaped fruit 15 millimeters long, which contains 6 chambers and numerous small seeds. It has a chromosome number of 2n = 56. It is native to the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra, Vietnam, and southern China. It is occasionally cultivated in Hawaii, and naturalized escaped populations are currently spreading on Hawaii Island, specifically in the Keaukaha area and along the highway from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to Hilo.
