Characters of Melastoma tetramerum and the Differences Between the Two Lines

摘要

Melastoma tetramerum Hayata is endemic species of Chichi-jima Island included in Ogasawara Islands. This species is ranked in the category of Critically Endangered in Threatened Wildlife of Japan, Vascular Plants (2000) with native plants remaining only at Higashi-daira area (1 plant) and Higashi-kaigan area (40 to 50 plants). We think that ornamental use is one of the means for increasing the number of individuals under culture and investigated these potential characters of M. tetramerum and related species (including cultivars) classified to Melastoma, Osbeckia, and Ttbouchiana.