Ground berry
Melastoma dodecandrum
Family: Melastomataceae
What it is like
A creeping herb. It keeps growing from year to year. The base of the stem is woody. The young portions are hairy. The leaves are opposite and broadly oval. They are 1-5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowers are purple-pink. They are 3 cm across. They bloom only in sunshine. There are 1- in groups at the ends of branches. The fruit are round and purple. They are like berries and 7-10 mm across. They are sweet and juicy.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on dry slopes and bare rocks. In China it grows in open fields and grasslands below 1,300 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, SE Asia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
In China plants flower in May to July and fruit July to September.