The fruit of the Melastoma malabathricum plant is a berry-like capsule that is round and about 6-10 mm wide:
When ripe, the fruit turns dark purple and opens irregularly to reveal a dark blue pulp with many orange seeds.
The fruit is edible but has little taste, and the pulp can stain the tongue.
Nutrients:
The fruit is rich in anthocyanins and tannins. Anthocyanins are coloring pigments that have antioxidant, antibacterial, and phytoalexin properties.
The Melastoma malabathricum plant is a flowering shrub that is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is also known as the Singapore Rhododendron. The plant is known for its ability to tolerate poor soils and grow in wastelands and secondary forests.
Parts of the Melastoma malabathricum plant are used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including:
toothache, wounds, diarrhea, dysentery, scar prevention, leucorrhea, high blood pressure, and diabetes.