Clidemia morichensis Wurdack

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia morichensis Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - C. involucratae DC. affinis sed foliis rigidiusculis 5-7-nervatis basi vix cordatis bracteis ovatis. Frutex 1 m; rami teretes petiolis pedunculisque dense setulosi pilis ca. 1 mm longis plerumque glanduliferis. Petioli 7-18 mm; lamina 5-11 X 2.5-5.5 cm anguste ovata apice anguste acuta basi vix (2-4 mm) cordata rigidiuscula, supra modice strigulosa pilis glanduliferis sparse intermixtis, subtus in venis dense et in superficie modice vel sparse setulosa pilis glanduliferis sparse intermixtis, 5-7-nervata nervis secundariis plerumque 2-4 mm inter se distantibus tertiariis vix inconspicuis, ad margines denticulata et glanduloso-ciliolata. Inflorescentia capituliformis 1-2 cm pedunculata involucrato-bracteata capitulo multifloro; bracteae exteriores duae 8-10 X 5-7 mm ovatae acutae modice gracili-setulosae pilis p.p. glanduliferis, interiores 4-6 vix minores; flores 5-meri. Hypanthium (ad torum) 3.8-4 mm longum subsericeo-strigosum; calycis tubus 0.2 mm altus, lobis interioribus 1.5 mm longis ovatis rotundatis ciliolatis, dentibus exterioribus 1.5 mm eminentibus lineari-lanceolatis setosis pilis p.p. glanduliferis. Petala 3.8-4.2 X 2.6-2.7 mm oblongo-obovata apice rotundata glabra eciliata. Stamina isomorphica glabra; filamenta 2.3-2.8 mm longa; antherarum thecae 2.8-3 mm longae lanceolatae poro apicali, connectivo basi non prolongato exappendiculato. Stylus 7.5 X 0.25 mm; stigma truncatum; ovarium 3-loculare 1/4-1/3-inferum apice in collum 0.3-0.4 mm altum circum stylum protractum collo cum setulis 10 glanduliferis 0.5 mm longis armato.

  • Discussion

    Type. Leaves very viscid, flowers greenish white, occasional on lower east slope of Cerro Moriche, Rio Ventuari, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, alt. 200-300 m, 16 Jan 1961, Bassett Maguire, R. S. Cowan, & J. J. Wurdack 30971 (holotype US 2842445). Paratype. VENEZUELA, Amazonas. Cerro Moriche: east slope, alt. 300-800 m, Maguire, Cowan, & Wurdack 30864.

    In C. involucrata, the leaf blades are shortly plinerved, much less densely pubescent, and acute to rounded (but not cordate) at the base; the floral bracts are linear to lanceolate. In general aspect, especially in the inflorescence form, C. morichensis is like C. capitata Benth.; that eastern Guayana species is eglandular, with predominantly 4-merous flowers, and with the ovary apex only very shortly glandular-setulose. The inflorescences of C. morichensis are borne one per branchlet from an upper leaf axil.