Miconia iluensis Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Sect. Tamonea. M. guianensi (Aubl.) Cogn. affinis sed stylo sparse glandiilosopuberulo toro ovarioque glabris. Frutex vel arbor parva; rami subnodosi obtuse quadrangulares primum cum petiolis foliis supra inflorescentiis bracteisque sparse stellulato-furfuracei demum glabrati. Petioli 2-3.5 cm; lamina (acumine excluso) 10-14 X 3.5-6 cm elliptica apice breviter graditer angusteque per 0.5-1 cm acuminata basi late acuta vel obtusa rigide membranacea, ut videtur glabra sed sub lente subtus sparse persistenterque stellulato-furfuracea et in nervorum primariorum axillis sparse inconspicueque pilis barbellatis 0.5-1 mm longis apice vix stellatis ornata, 5-nervata nervis secundariis plerumque 4-5 mm inter se distantibus, integra non ciliata. Panicula 10-12 cm longa oblonga, ramis ascendentibus ad nodos plerumque 4-verticillatis apice floribus 6-meris ad basim bibracteatis in dichasio; pedicelli 6-12 mm longi; bracteae 8-10 X 5-7 mm obovato-ellipticae apice obtusae ad anthesim caducae. Hypanthium (ad torum) 3.8-4 mm glabrum; calycis tubus 1 mm altus apice truncatus vel vix 6-undiilatus glaber, dentibus exterioribus non evolutis; torus glaber. Petala 8.5-9 X 4.5-5 mm obovato-oblonga apice asymmetrice rotundato-truncata ad margines densiuscule glandulis sessilibus minutissimis obsita alioqui glabra. Stamina glabra vix anisomorphica; filamenta 7.5 vel 6.5 mm; antherarum thecae 8-8.5 vel 6-6.5 mm subulatae undulatae apice minute uniporosae, connectivo sub loculis ventraliter appendice 0.5-0.6 X 1 mm truncata vel vix emarginata ornato dorsaliter non appendiculato sed ca. 1-2 mm supra basim distincte elevato. Stylus 12.5 X 0.6-0.8 mm infra medium sparse glanduloso-setulosus apicem versus vix expansus; stigma expansum 1.5 mm diam; ovarium 4-loculare 1/5-inferum apice in collum crassum lobulatum 0.5 mm altum circum stylum protractum glandulis minutissimis sessilibus sparsis exceptis glabrum.
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Discussion
Type. Petals pink, anthers yellow, occasional on slopes between Camp No. 2 and escarpment base, Ilu-tepui, Edo. Bolivar, Venezuela, alt. 1900-2300 m, 16 Mar 1952, Bassett Maejuire 33436 (holotype U S 2342473).
All of the 20 observable flowers in the type collection were 6-inerous. M. guianensis and the other species included in the discussion of M . superba Ule (vide infra) have a sparsely to moderately stellate-puberulous torus and ovary, as well as a glabrous to basally moderately stellate-pubescent style. In vegetative pubescence density, M . iluensis is like the glabrescent element, M. florida (DC.) Naud., included in M . guianensis by Gleason. The divergence from the postulated relatives in interior floral pubescence may well indicate that, despite the remark able resemblance in aspect, M. iluensis is more closely related to species 18-27 of Cogniaux' monograph; all of these species have either glandular filaments, smaller flowers, or smaller bracts.