Melastomataceae FAMILY

Miconia argentea

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Miconia argentea is a large shrub or a tree with a dense, rounded or spreading crown; it can sometimes grow up to 15 metres tall. The bole is often short and crooked, though it can also be straight and unbranched for 6 - 8 metres and up to 30cm in diameter[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The tree is locally valued for its wood, which is used mainly as a fuel and charcoal[ 46 Title Dictionary of Economic Plants. Publication Author Uphof. J. C. Th. Publisher Weinheim Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader. , 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. It has potential for use as a pioneer species to restore native woodland and establish woodland gardens. The larger trees are conspicuous and rather handsome. When the foliage is disturbed by wind, the white under surfaces of the leaves are exposed and the trees appear from a short distance to be covered with masses of white blossoms[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeCentral America - Panama to Mexico.

HabitatMoist or wet thickets, most often on brushy hillsides or in ravines, sometimes in pine forest, at elevations from around sea level to about 500 metres, with some specimens found at elevations up to 1,500 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].