Melastomataceae

Miconia species

Common Names: Miconia

Plant Form: Small to medium tree. Size: Up to 15 m tall. Stem: Greenish and squarish with velvety hairs when young, maturing to brown and rounded. Leaves: Green on top with purplish-blue underside, with 3 prominent veins. Between 20 cm and 80 cm long. With velvety hairs when young. Flowers: White to pink with 5 petals. Very small in large clusters of 1000 or more. With a sweet smell and very short lived. Fruit and Seeds: Green, brown or orange ripening to purplish-black. Up to 7 mm diameter containing 50-200 tiny seeds. Habitat: Rainforests, riparian areas, roadsides.