Medinella, Daintree medinilla
Medinilla balls-headleyi
Family: Melastomataceae
What it is like
A climbing plant. It climbs 1-5 m tall. it has a scrambling habit. The stems are supported by roots from the nodes. Young growth is pink or purple. It has a dense covering of leaves. The leaves are 6-10 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They occur in rings of 3. They are dark green and have 3 prominent veins. The leaves are thick and have attractive veins. The new leaves are bronze in colour. The flowers are pink. They are carried on the older stems. The flowers are 1.5 cm across. The fruit are berries 1-1.5 cm across. The are pink or purple. They have several small seeds.
There are about 150-400 Medinilla species. There is one Medinella sp endemic to Australia.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It occurs in rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows at high altitudes. It needs well drained soil. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 450 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. It can be trained to climb a trellis or pruned to form a bush.