Miconia navioensis Wurdack

• Authority

  Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1961. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IV (2). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-87.

• Family

  Melastomataceae

• Scientific Name

  Miconia navioensis Wurdack

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - M. seriali D C , in aspectu arete affinis sed pubescentia tenuiori floribus vix minoribus connectivo staminum antesepalorum subtus proportionaliter longe prolongato. Sect. Miconia subsect. Seriatiflorae. Rami teretes cum petiolis foliis subtus inflorescentiis hypanthiis calycibusque cum pube amorphica tenuissima adpressa pallide fusca dense obsiti. Petioli 1-1.5 cm longi; lamina tenuiter coriacea 9-17 X 2.5-7 cm elliptica apice subabrupte acuminata (acumine 1-1.5 cm longo) basi late acuta vel anguste obtusa margine integerrima 5-nervata nervis duobus exterioribus inframarginalibus nervis secundariis numerosis ca. 2-4 mm inter se distantibus supra vix impressis subtus graciliter elevatis tertiariis laxe reticulatis, supra glabra, subtus cum nervis primariis secundariisque subglabratis. Inflorescentia paniculata 6-10 cm longa ramis longis arcuatis multifloris cum floribus secundis; flores 5-meri sessiles. Hypanthium (ad torum) 1.1 mm altum; calycis tubus 0.7 mm altus apice subtruncatus lobis rotundatis vix 0.2 mm altis. Petala 2.4 X 1-1 mm obovata apice rotundato-subtruneata glabra eciliata. Stamina distincte dimorphica; filamenta 2.3-2.5 mm longa, antheris per porum lateralem pro stamine magnum dehiscentibus. Stamina antesepala: thecae 1.4 mm longae connectivo usque ad insertionem filamenti 0.6 mm prolongato et sub insertionem postice in appendicem 0.45-0.6 mm oblongam basi rotundato-truncatam armato. Stamina intersepala: thecae 1.2 mm longae, connectivo usque ad insertionem filamenti 0.3 mm prolongato et lateraliter ad 0.4 mm expanso postice sub insertionem in appendicem anguste triangularem 0.5 mm prolongato. Stylus 4.2 X 0.35 mm apice in stigmate truncato 0.4 mm diam. indistincte expansus; ovarium 3-loculare apice in conum subhemisphaericum 0.5 mm altum glabrum prolongatum. Fructus ignotus.

• Discussion

  M. serialis has a striking habital similarity to M. navioensis, but has a thicker indument and slightly larger flowers with much larger stamens and the antesepalar anther connectives prolonged only about 0.2 mm to the filament insertion, as well as a proportionately smaller anther pore. M . albicans (Sw.) Tr. differs from M. navioensis in the subcordate to cordate leaf bases, larger flowers, shorter antesepalar anther connective prolongation, very short blunt alternisepalar posterior anther connective spur, and the more distinctly expanded stigma. The large anther pore and long connective prolongation of the flowers of M . navioensis are suggestive of Miconia sect. Glossoccntrum, but the obvious close affinity with M . serialis makes the present placement desirable.