A large shrub or small tree, up to 8-14m tall with amazing bright blue flowers
that look almost unreal. Delek air produces showy clusters of tiny purple
flowers, about 1cm each. The trees bloom once or twice a year, and are then
indeed a beautiful sight. As the flower petals are shed, the sand and rocks
below are dusted in mauve. The fruits are small (about 1cm) and are green,
turning red then black as they ripen. The tree has a thin bark, so it is
sometimes also called 'Nipis kulit' or 'thin-skinned' in Malay.
Delek air belongs to the same family as the more familiar Singapore
Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) This tree is not only beautiful, but
also useful. It provides hard timber used for building houses and boats. A
yellow dye can be extracted from the leaves and the bark is used to treat
bruises.
Medicinal uses: The leaves are used in the treatment of gonorrhea,
or when mixed with several other ingredients, they make good fomentations for
external use.
Identification credit: Yogish Holla
Photographed in Goa & Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Ironwood Tree is ...