Pleroma heteromallum
Pleroma heteromallum | |
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at Universidade de Brasília, Brazil | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Melastomataceae |
Genus: | Pleroma |
Species: | P. heteromallum
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Binomial name | |
Pleroma heteromallum | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Pleroma heteromallum, synonyms including Tibouchina grandifolia and Tibouchina heteromalla,[1] known by the common name silverleafed princess flower in English,[2] is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae. It is native to French Guiana, Bolivia and Brazil.[1]
Description
[edit]Pleroma heteromallum reaches an average height of 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m), with a maximum of about 8–10 feet (2.4–3.0 m) in its native habitat. The branching stem is woody and the large, silvery green leaves are simple, ovate, velvety in texture, and oppositely arranged. The inflorescence is a panicle of several purple flowers with five petals. The plant has 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) long leaves, with prominent veins that are puffed up in the middle and old leaves will often turn an orange color just prior to dropping off.[3]
Cultivation
[edit]The plant is cultivated as an ornamental for its showy foliage and purple flowers. It is sensitive to cold but can tolerate a light frost.
Gallery
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Inflorescence
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Flower
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Foliage
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Pleroma heteromallum (D.Don) D.Don". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Tibouchina heteromalla". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Tibouchina heteromalla, Silver leafed Princess Flower, Shrub, [Tibouchina grandifolia, Hort]". Plant Information. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
Sources
[edit]- Porembski, S., et al. (1998). Diversity and ecology of saxicolous vegetation mats on inselbergs in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Diversity and Distributions 4(3) 107–19.
- Renner, S. S. (1989). A survey of reproductive biology in neotropical Melastomataceae and Memecylaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden.