Pleroma heteromallum

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]

Pleroma heteromallum
at Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae
Genus: Pleroma
Species:
P. heteromallum
Binomial name
Pleroma heteromallum
(D.Don) D.Don[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Lasiandra adenostemon DC.
  • Lasiandra heteramalla (D.Don) Naudin
  • Lasiandra macrophylla Naudin
  • Lasiandra multiflora (Gardner) Naudin
  • Melastoma heteromallum D.Don
  • Meriania adenostemon Schrank ex DC.
  • Pleroma adenostemon (DC.) A.Gray
  • Pleroma multiflora Gardner
  • Tibouchina adenostemon (DC.) Cogn.
  • Tibouchina grandifolia Cogn.
  • Tibouchina heteromalla (D.Don) Cogn.
  • Tibouchina magdalenensis Brade
  • Tibouchina multiflora (Gardner) Cogn.

Description

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

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.

  • Habit
    Habit
  • Inflorescence
    Inflorescence
  • Flower
    Flower
  • Foliage
    Foliage

References
  1. "Pleroma heteromallum (D.Don) D.Don". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Tibouchina heteromalla". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  3. "Tibouchina heteromalla, Silver leafed Princess Flower, Shrub, [Tibouchina grandifolia, Hort]". Plant Information. Retrieved 2020-02-08.

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.


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