Begum Bahar / Glory Bush
Pleroma semidecandrum
- Found in India
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan
How to identify Begum Bahar
Identify Begum Bahar by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Large velvety-leaved shrub with big purple flowers, formerly Tibouchina.
- Confirm leaf surface: Pubescent.
- Confirm flower colour: Purple/violet.
- In India, compare location records such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan.
- Confirm it sits within the Melastomataceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Begum Bahar.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Pleroma semidecandrum
- Genus
- Pleroma
- Family
- Melastomataceae
- Found in India
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf surface
- PubescentrecordedCovered in short, soft hairs.“The dark green, velvety, 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long leaves have several prominent longitudinal veins instead of the usual one, and are often edged in red.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Opposite
Characters marked “recorded” are for Begum Bahar itself; the rest are typical of the Melastomataceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Purple/violetrecorded
Typical of the family
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Berry
Characters marked “recorded” are for Begum Bahar itself; the rest are typical of the Melastomataceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Urdu
- Begum Bahar ﺑﻴﮕﻢ ﺑﮩﺎﺭ
About Begum Bahar
Glory bush (Pleroma semidecandrum) belongs to the Melastomataceae family. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
Melastomataceae
Melastome family
Begum Bahar belongs to the Melastomataceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Melastomataceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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