Scientific Name: Melastoma malabathricum L.
Common Name: Singapore Rhododendron, Senduduk (Sendudok)
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae -- Senduduk Family
Description: It is a small shrub, that has tiny scales on its branches and petioles. The leaves are narrow and lanceolate, about 5-10 cm long, usually with 3 prominent veins running from the base. The flowers are light pink-purple, with elbowed anthers surrounding the style, and are borne in clustered inflorescences. The fruit is interesting, a sort of pod, usually about 1.5 cm long, which is covered in small bumps and topped with a persistent calyx. The greenish pod splits open halfway and flips over to reveal a fleshy deep purple structure studded with numerous (about a thousand) tiny seeds, and is usually 5-sectioned.
Uses: Reafforestation. The astringent fruits and sour leaves are eaten. Fleshy parts are astringent, and have medicinal uses. The leaves and shoot ends are used with mangosteen bark and husks in a decoction for diarrhoea. Shoots are used for puerperal infection. Leaves are used in a local cure-all tonic. Root decoction is used in a post-childbirth medicine (ubat meroyan). Dry powdered leaves are sprinkled on wounds. Roots are used as a toothache mouthwash. Black dye is obtained from fruits. Ashes are used as a mordant for other dyes. Wood is too small to be useful, however. The flowers are used as ornamentation during weddings. Silk worms feed on its foliage, which are also used for dysentery medicine. The fruit is edible, somewhat sweet and tart, leaving a purple stain on one's mouth and clothing. Birds and bats feed on them and disperse the tiny seeds in their droppings, and ants have been observed feeding on the fruits too.