Tococa liesneri Wurdack

  • Authority

    Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa liesneri Wurdack

  • Type

    Type. Venezuela. Amazonas: Proa Camp, Cerro Aracamuni, 1400 m, 1 Nov 1987, Liesner & Camevali 22700 (holotype MO; isotypes US, VEN).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub, to 0.4-0.5 m tall; stems with a mix of glandular setae and stellate trichomes, the setae 2-4 mm long, persistent, the nodes glabrous. Leaves isophyllous, ovate-oblong, 1.5-3.0 X 0.8-1.4 cm, apex round to acute, base cordate, the sinus up to 3 mm long, adaxial surface adpressed-setose, abaxial surface with a mix of short stellate hairs and very sparse, long, glandular setae, glandular-setose on the nerves, light green, 3-nervate, sometimes 5-nervate, but the outermost pair of nerves thin and inconspicuous, coriaceous, entire, ciliate; petioles 0.5-1.5 mm long; domatia absent. Inflorescence terminal, solitary or a dichasium, the axis green, terete. Flowers on pedicels 2-7 mm long, flared at the apex, subtended by persistent bracts, narrowly deltoid, 2.0-2.5 X 0.5-0.7 mm; hypanthium campanulate, 5.0-5.5 mm long, very sparsely glandular-setose and with sparse stellate trichomes; outer calyx teeth narrowly triangular, barely projecting above the inner teeth, 1.5-2.5 mm long, inner calyx teeth oblong to deltoid, 2.5-3.5 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 5, obovate-oblong, 10-11.5 X 8-9 mm, emarginate, smooth, glabrous, pink; stamens all the same size; filaments 6.5-7.0 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 5.0-5.5 mm long, opening by a ventrally inclined pore; ovary 3-locular, 1/2-2/3 inferior, the superior portion terete to broadly conical, the apex truncate; style glabrous, 11-12 mm long; stigma truncate. Fruits globose, 6-7 mm long, black, glabrous; seeds not evident through the pericarp, developed seeds not observed.

  • Discussion

    Tococa liesneri is known only from two collections from Cerro Aracamuni. For comments on relationships and similar species, see the discussion under T. obovata.

  • Distribution

    Cerro Aracamuni in S Venezuela, endemic in tepui dwarf forests and shrub scrubs at 1400-1550 m.

    Amazonas Venezuela South America|