Miconia borjensis Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1961. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IV (2). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-87.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - M. aulocalyci Mart, ex Tr. et M. abbreviatae Mgf. affinis sed cum floribus maioribus plerumque 6-meris. Sect. Miconia. Rami superne leviter compressi vetustiores teretes juniores cum petiolis inflorescentiis hypanthiisque sub lente dense adpresseque stellato-sublepidoto-pubescentes. Petioli 1.5-2 cm longi; lamina 8-15 X 2.5-5 cm anguste ovata vel ovato-elliptica apice sensim acuminata basi late acuta tenuiter coriacea vel membranacea ad margines indistincte serrulata serratulis tenuibus ca. 2 mm inter se distantibus 3-nervata vel indistincte 5-nervata (propterea 5-plinervata nervis interioribus duobus 2-3 mm supra basim insertis) nervis secundariis supra vix impressis vel obsoletis subtus leviter elevatis, tertiariis vix evolutis cum areolis magnis laxis, supra glabra, subtus dense vel densiuscule adpresseque albido-stellato-sublepidoto-pubescens. Paniculae 3-10 cm longae ramis trifloris vel simpliciter furcatis cum ramulis plerumque trifloris; flores plerumque 6-meri rare 5-meri plerumque 1-2 mm pedicellati ad basim hypanthii bibracteolati bracteclis caducis linearibus 5 X 0.9-1.6 mm. Hypanthium (ad torum) ca. 3 mm altum; calycis tubus 1.4-1.5 mm altus apice truncatus extus inconspicue 6-dentatus dentibus non eminentibus. Petala 6-6.5 X 4-4.5 mm obovata apice oblique truncata extus centraliter granuloso-sublepidoto-pubescentia. Stamina subisomorphica; filamenta ca. 6 mm longa; antherarum thecae 4.5-5 mm longae oblongo-lanceolatae connectivo postice 0.2 mm vel 0.4-0.6 mm in appendice truncato prolongato antice non vel vix bilobulato glabro vel ad basim per margines cum glandulis minutis sessilibus munito. Stylus 10.5-12.5 X 0.6-0.8 mm basim versus sparse steUato-puberulus; stigma truncatum 0.5 mm diam.; ovarium 6-loculare apice in collum 0.7-0.9 mm altum ad verticem stellato-puberulum protractum.
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Discussion
The field notes for the type collection indicate that the leaves are sometimes 3-whorled. Both of the paratypes have leaf blades proportionately wider than in the type collection and, in 41086, of thinner texture.
Both M. aulocalyx and M. abbreviata have 5-merous flowers, hypanthium plus calyx 3-3.5 (rather than ca. 4.5) mm long (ex Macbride photographs), and entire leaves. From the foliar variability seen in N e w York material of M. aulocalyx and M. abbreviata, the distinctness of these two species seems doubtful although M. aulocalyx was described with glabrous petals and M. abbreviata with pubescent petals. The flower size in M . borjensis suggests somewhat Miconia sect. Tamonea near M. trailii Cogn. I have examined the Kew material of M . trailii, which has much larger leaves with prominent tertiary veins and coarser pubescence, smaller bracteoles, and larger flowers with the campanulate-oblong regularly sulcate calyces and long-attenuate anthers characteristic of other members of sect. Tamionea, rather than suggesting a close relationship with M. borjensis.