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Discussion

JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:

26 Jun 2025

Senior botanist Trevor Whiffin in 1990 in the Flora of Au vol. 18 page 248, wrote:
"
A very variable species, even within Australia.
Variation can be seen in the size, shape and density of the scales on the hypanthium, the size and shape of the calyx lobes and of the floral bracts, and the size and general pubescence of the leaves.

Some of these characters are used to distinguish species within the genus.

_Melastoma malabathricum_ is generally distinguished by the large floral bracts.
Despite the variation within _M. affine_, it does remain distinct from _M. malabathricum_.

Some plants within Australia, which have their hypanthium densely covered with slightly longer scales, approach _M. lanuginosum_ Blume, but appear to remain distinct.

A thorough revision of these and other related species throughout their range is needed to fully settle the species limits.
".
→ https://www.dcceew.gov.au/science-research/abrs/publications/flora-of-australia/vol18
.

My reading of all this information suggests too, that Trevor Whiffin's then 1990 point of view may have become out of date.

I may still lack further information on this topic hence incorrect in my point of view.

Indeed as Trevor Whiffin wrote in 1990 and does remain so correct on this point, I share in my own humble point of view:

we all require the information of a thorough revision of these plants' taxa throughout each of their respective global ranges .

Melastoma affine

JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:

26 Jun 2025

Anthony Bean (Qld senior botanist) via KeyBase :
https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/6301
https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/13117
.

Melastoma affine

JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:

26 Jun 2025

For example Northern Territory Flora online:
https://eflora.nt.gov.au/browse?heading=browseNTFlora&viewLevel=all&exactMatches&family=MELASTOMATACEAE&genus=Melastoma
.

Melastoma affine

JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:

26 Jun 2025

For example Qld WildNet search results' information listing:
https://wildnet.science-data.qld.gov.au/species-search?include_sighting_count=false&location_search_by=area&taxon_name=Melastoma&advanced=false&tab=0
.

Melastoma affine

JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:

26 Jun 2025

Yeah better to choose one name or the other, than confuse everybody with two names for the same real life species IMHO.

IMHO I choose:
_Melastoma malabathricum_ subsp. _malabathricum_
as in my reading the Qld and NT floras' informations have this taxon concept's names more up to date than at the moment APNI has (for this taxon concept's names).

APNI in general Au-wide has really up to date information, with some small minority of exceptions such this taxon concept and its names.
Way more up to date Au–wide than any global plants list's information about Au plants' taxa.

Hence i choose to keep _Melastoma affine_ as a synonym of _Melastoma malabathricum_ subsp. _malabathricum_ as the current name .

Melastoma affine