Mouriri monopora Morley
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Authority
Morley, Thomas. 1976. Melastomataceae tribe Memecyleae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 15: 1-295. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. R. L Froes 23882 (holotype, MIN; isotypes, IAN, MICH, NY). Brazil: Amazonas: Igarape Jandiatuba. T. f. high land high forest. Shrub, 2 mts white flowers. Flowers and flower buds, 11 Jan. 1949.
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex glaber, 2 m altus; ramuli juvenes peranguste 4-alati. Petioli 0.5-1.5 mm longi; laminae 6.4-9.3 cm longae, 2.3-3.3 cm latae, ovato-ellipticae vel leviter oblongae vel raro oblongoellipticae, ápice abrupte caudato, basi acuta leviter attenuata; superficies costae mediae plana, pagina inferior rotundata; nervi laterales manifesti in sicco. Cryptae stomatatae 30-60 n diametris, 24-29 µ altae, 51-84 in mm2 ; sclerides terminales foliariae stellatae. Inflorescentiae plerumque axillares, interdum ad nodos ramulorum aphyllorum usque 4 mm crassorum, 1-3 in quoque later, singulae 1-3-florae, 1.0-2.0 mm longae secus axes cum internodiis 2-3 ad bases pedicellorum; bracteae 0.6-1.0 mm longae, ovatotriangulares, acutae, persistentes sub anthesi; pedicelli 1.2-2.0 mm longi. Calyx ovarium inferior includens 1.7-2.1 mm longus, obconicus; hypanthium liberum 0.8 mm longum; lobi calycis 0.2-0.3 mm longi, 1.1-1.2 mm lati, truncati, 0.6 mm longi ab staminibus. Pétala alba, 29-3.8 mm longa, 1.3-1.6 mm lata, elliptica, ápice breviacuminata, basi lata ungue parva. Antherae 1.5 mm longae; thecae 1.2 mm longae, ambae poro único apicali dehiscentes; glándula 0.3 mm longa cum centro 1.1 mm ab ápice antherae. Ovarium 1-loculare, placentatione centrali libera; ovula 4, ad eandem altitudinem affixa; stylus 6.5 mm longus. Fructus ignotus.
Description - The epithet refers to the single pore of dehiscence in each anther, unique in the genus. Midrib xylem tubular; stomatal crypts Type II, their extreme dimensions and frequencies given above; upper epidermis one cell thick, all cells with mucilaginous walls 2/3-3/4 the depth of the cell; hypodermis none; free stone cells at base of midrib only; terminal sclereids stellate with the arms relatively few and short, the central bodies 1-4 times as long as wide.
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Discussion
The very small anthers with their single pore dehiscence are sufficient to distinguish this species in the genus. Other identifying characters are the small simple stomatal crypts, single epidermis, absence of a hypodermis, small floral dimensions, truncate calyx, and 1-locular ovary with only 4 ovules, the smallest number in the genus. No other species seems very similar to this one. The relatively simple leaf structure and great floral reduction suggest a rather distant connection with the three preceding species of this section.
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Distribution
Known only from the type locality in west central Amazonas.
Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|