Is melastoma malabathricum edible?
Mature fruits are edible but tinge the mouth of the eater black (family name: mela-stoma, meaning ‘black mouth’). As is true of many species of Melastomataceae worldwide, leaves of Melastoma malabathricum are applied to burns to speed wound healing. Melastoma malabathricum. L. Melastomaceae. The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked and taste sour. Leaves are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and ulcers; to prevent scarring from smallpox; and to treat piles.