''Pleroma heteromallum'',
synonyms
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
including ''Tibouchina grandifolia'' and ''Tibouchina heteromalla'',
[ known by the common name silverleafed princess flower in English, is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae. It is native to French Guiana, ]Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
and Brazil.[
]
Description
''Pleroma heteromallum'' reaches an average height of , with a maximum of about 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
A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
of several purple flowers with five petals. The plant has 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.
Cultivation
The plant is cultivated as an ornamental Ornamental may refer to:
*Ornamental grass, a type of grass grown as a decoration
*Ornamental iron, mild steel that has been formed into decorative shapes, similar to wrought iron work
*Ornamental plant, a plant that is grown for its ornamental qua ...
for its showy foliage and purple flowers. It is sensitive to cold but can tolerate a light frost.
Gallery
File:Tibouchina grandiflora 1.jpg, Habit
File:Melastomataceae - Tibouchina grandiflora-6.JPG, Inflorescence
File:Melastomataceae - Tibouchina heteromalla-3.JPG, Flower
File:Melastomataceae - Tibouchina heteromalla-2.JPG, Foliage
References
Sources
*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''.
heteromallum
Flora of Bolivia
Flora of Brazil
Flora of French Guiana
{{Melastomataceae-stub