This introduced shrub is commonly known as Asian melastome.
Melastoma candidum is described as a "dicot" in the Melastomataceae family.
In the Queensland Nature Conservation Act it is not classified as it is not native to Queensland. Under the Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act it is not classified.
Leaves: Generally 5 distinct longitudinal veins and 2 less distinct intramarginal veins. Leaves hairy but thicker and stiffer than Blue Tongue. Leaf stalks purple or white with long hairs. Flowers: More purple and a larger flower than the native Blue Tongue. Five petals about 25-32mm long.
Fruit: Bright raspberry red in colour. Habit: Grows to 2 metres high and is more dense and robust than the native Blue Tongue (http://www.lfwseq.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Land-for-Wildlife-Newsletter-July-2016.pdf).
It has been recorded in the Wide Bay district in the Queensland Herbarium Census but is not listed as occurring in the Fraser Coast region in Queensland Herbarium Wildlife Online.
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Fraser Coast distribution based on unverified field reports.
AVH
