Himalayan Melastome, Phuuki, Phutkala, Nura Khudonglei .

Usages

Ornamental- It is locally cultivated as an ornamental. Food- The fruits and young leaves are eaten. Medicine-Leaves are ground and used as a remedy for diarrhoea, leucorrhoea and dysentery and also applied as a compress to wounds, cuts and swellings. The fruits and roots are sucked for toothache. Dye- The fruit yields a purple or black dye, whilst the roots and leaves yield a pink dye which shows potential as a natural colouring agent to replace synthetic colourant in the food and beverage industries Eco-restoration- It has been found to be suitable for absorbing heavy metals in contaminated soils, and the species can also be considered an effective mitigator of soil pollution and phytoremediator of contaminated soil.

Native to

Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal

Habitat

Wet tropical biome.

Conservation Status