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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. 16: 152. 1850

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Description:

Description Author and Date: Frank Almeda, based on Almeda, F. (2009). Melastomataceae. In: G. Davidse, M. Sousa-Sânchez, S. Knapp, & F. Chiang (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana: Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): 164-338.

Type: Holotype: Colombia, Bonpland s.n. (P!).

Description: Shrubs 1-3 m tall, the branchlets and inflorescences moderately covered with smooth spreading hairs 6-10 mm long. Leaves 5-nerved (outermost pair of nerves sometimes inconspicuous), lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, 8-17 X 2.5-6.4 cm, adaxially moderately covered with appressed smooth hairs 1.5-4 mm long, abaxially moderately to sparsely covered with smooth hairs 1-5 mm long (the longer hairs mostly restricted to the elevated primaries), apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, the margin ciliate-serrulate; petioles 1-4.5 mm long. Inflorescences 5-10 cm long; flowers 5-merous, sessile and secund on the spreading branchlets, the persistent bracteoles oblong-obovate, 2-2.5 X 1-2 mm. Hypanthia glabrous; calyx lobes semicircular, 0.5-1(-1.5) mm long, conspicuously ciliate, the triangular setulose exterior teeth 0.5-1 mm long. Petals oblong-obovate, 2-3 X 1.5-2 mm. Anthers isomorphic, linear-oblong, 1.5 mm long, pink to red-purple, the pore ventrally inclined; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged. Style glabrous, 2.5 mm long; stigma truncate; ovary 3-locular, 4/5 inferior, apex sparsely glandular-puberulent; berry 5-6 X 5-6 mm, blue-purple at maturity. Seeds ovoid, vaguely granulate, 0.7-1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common, rain forest margins, stream margins, disturbed sites. 0-700 m. Southern Mexico (Oaxaca and Veracruz southward), Trinidad, Venezuela and Colombia south to Peru. MEXICO: Tabasco (Martínez 18998, CAS); Chiapas (Cowan 2623, CAS); BELIZE (Gentle 7469, CAS); GUATEMALA (Contreras 5332, CAS); HONDURAS (Pineda 184, CAS); NICARAGUA (Neill 2575, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3402, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 5819, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: The inflorescence of this species is distinctive in that each sessile flower is nestled in a tuft of setose spreading hairs opposed by a persistent bracteole.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]