Family names in botany are usually dry and technical, but Melastomataceae has an unusually colourful origin. Its root is the genus Melastoma, a name built from two Greek words: melas, meaning black, and stoma, meaning mouth.
Where the name comes from
Species of Melastoma produce small berries whose pulp is rich in dark pigments. Eat one, and your tongue and lips will turn blue-black or purple. The stain gave the genus its name, and the genus gave its name to the family. In German, the family is still called Schwarzmundgewächse, literally black-mouth plants. For more on the naming history, see the meaning of the name Melastomataceae.
Food uses
Fruits from several melastomes are eaten locally in the regions where they grow.
- Melastoma: the berries of Melastoma species, including the widespread Melastoma malabathricum, are eaten in parts of Asia, often as a snack. They are sweet with a slightly astringent note, and the seeds are small enough to be swallowed.
- Bellucia: the larger fruits of Bellucia are eaten fresh or used in drinks in parts of tropical America.
- Miconia and relatives: the small berries of various Neotropical species are eaten by wildlife, and some are tried by people locally, though few are important crops.
- Others: many more species have edible fruits in a technical sense, but most are too small, seedy or astringent to be of much interest as food.
No melastome is a major commercial fruit crop. Their importance is in local, seasonal and wild food use, and as food for wildlife.
Dyes and other uses
The strongly staining pigments of some species have been used as colourants in traditional contexts. Wood, leaves and roots of various species are used locally for fuel, tools or crafts, and some are planted as ornamentals or as soil cover.
A caution about wild plants
Please treat this article as natural history, not a foraging guide. Identification of wild plants is difficult, and the Melastomataceae includes more than four thousand species, many of which look alike and few of which have been tested for safety. Some plants in other families have berries that resemble melastome fruits and are toxic. Never eat a fruit unless an expert has confirmed its identity and edibility.
A note on medicinal claims
Several melastomes also appear in folk medicine, but traditional use is not evidence that a plant is safe or effective. For a careful discussion, read Melastomataceae in traditional medicine.
Takeaways
- The family name literally means black mouth, after berries that stain the tongue.
- Several melastomes have edible fruits eaten locally.
- None is a major crop, and wild identification should be left to experts.
- Folk use should not be confused with proven medical value.