Pearl White Medinilla

The genus Medinilla Gaudich. ex DC. (Melastomataceae: Dissochaeteae) includes about 375 species (Mabberley 2008) of epiphytic and terrestrial shrubs and climbers occurring from Tropical Africa, Madagascar, to India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, throughout Southeast Asia, New Guinea, northern Australia, Micronesia, Solomons, and Vanuatu. In the Philippines, regarded as one of the centers of diversity of the genus (Regalado 1995), Merrill (1913) early on accounted just 28 species, then later 125 species (Merrill 1923). In the most recent taxonomic revision of the Philippine species of this genus, Regalado (1995) recognized 80 species belonging to 12 species groups with 90% endemicity. Many of these species have ornamental features and some have long and widely been in cultivation (Steiner 1960, Madulid 1995, Rosario & Mendoza 1998, Boo et al. 2006). (http://www.academia.edu/5205457/Medinilla_dallciana_Melastomataceae_Dis…).

Medinilla are mainly found growing in relatively high altitude tropical moist forest environments, with many species being epiphytic small to medium sized shrubs. This simply means that they use a host tree for support enabling them to occupy a niche environment up off the dark sodden rain forest floor. Many popular garden ornamentals such as species of orchids, bromeliads and ferns are found in similar environments. (http://www.impactplants.com.au/plant-of-the-month/medinilla/).