Scientific Name: Melastoma malabathricum subsp malabathricum (was Melastoma affine)

Prev Next
Print This Page
  • Pronunciation:
    mel-ah-STOME-ah mel-ah-BATH-re-cum
  • Common Name:
    Blue Tongue Nunyi-um
  • Derivation:
    Melastoma: Gr. melanos - black, Gr. stoma - a mouth. (what you get if you chew the berries)
  • Type:
    Shrub
  • Family:
    MELASTOMATACEAE
  • Flowers:
    Spring to Autumn mauve
  • Fruit:
    Semi-succulent capsule
  • Vegetation Type:
    Mooloolaba TAFE, Wallum Wallum Woodland Wet EucForest
  • Species List:
    EdingtonDr, Cooroibah, Plants for Coastal Gardens, Emu Swamp, W2, Bush food, NLTalks2010, Cooroibah Airstrip, Weyba Nature Refuge, Eumarella Rd., Peregian Boardwalk, Boreen Point Caravan Park, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, Wallace Park, St. Teresa's, Pacific Lutheran College, Cooroibah26.4.09, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Cooloothin Corner, Fraser Island, Mill Point, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Batianoff 87, Upper Yandina Creek, Boreen Point, Leslie Drive Roundabout Noosa North Shore PS TAFE BHNR NNP Tanglewood Noosa Banks Noosa River NP NNS Fern Track, Stratford Park, NNS, Heritage Park, Regional Ecosystem 12.3.5.
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Bush food: Sweet edible fruit pulp causes tongue to turn black

Identification Notes

Leaves: Rough-textured ||Fruit: semi-succulent, becoming dry||

Associated Fauna

Butterfly host plant: Miskin's blue (RARE), Maskin's Jewell||

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list. ||Bushy shrub for moist soils in sun or part shade.||Prune to shape.||Very hardy, extensively used in roadside landscaping.||Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery.|Successfully propagated by Florabunda Bushcare nursery Woombye| Successfully propogated by Noosa & District Landcare|Successfully propagated by Mooloolah Native Nursery||Add to mixed hedge or screen for texture and seasonal colour.||Successfully propagated by Barung Landcare||