Clidemia andersonii Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Sect. Sagraea. C. caudataeWurdack in aspectu vegetativo aflfinis, inflorescentia minus evoluta ovario 3-loculari diflfert. Frutex ca. 2.5 m; ramuli teretes sicut folia novella inflorescentia hypanthiaque obscure caduceque squamati. Petiolus liber 0.7-1.6 cm longus; lamina ll-18(-25) x 3.5-6.5 cm elliptica vel anguste elliptica, apice hebeti-acuminata basi acuta et decurrenti, chartacea et integra obscure distanterque appresso-ciliolata, 5-plinervata pari interiore 2-3(-5) cm supra basin divergenti nervis secundariis plerumque 4-5 mm inter se distantibus nervulis subtus creberrime (0.2-0.3 mm ) reticulatis et plus minusve elevatis. Inflorescentiae in foliomm superiorum axillis oppositis ca. 1 cm (demum ad 2 c m) longae plemmque e basin trifurcatae pauciflorae; flores 4-meri, pediceUis 0.2-0.3(-l) mm longis, bracteolis ca. 0.5 m m longis triangularibus subpersistentibus. Hypanthium (ad torum ) 1.7-1.9 mm longum; calycis tubus 0.1-0.2 mm longus, lobis interioribus 0.2-
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Discussion
nov. Type. Venezuela. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, 1850 m alt., 2 Dec 1984, W. R. Anderson 13469 (holotype U S 3060813, isotypes M I C H , VEN). Paratype (near topotypical). 30 Nov 1984, R. Krai 71960 (US, V D B , V E N ) .
The suggested Ecuadorian relative has similar foliage, but inflorescences 2-4 c m long, slightly emergent extemal calyx teeth, anthers 0.9-1 m m long, and ovary 4-celled. Other South American species with similar dense leaf venule areoles, pubescence, and 3-celled ovaries, but sessile-aggregate include C. cruegeriana Griseb. and C. sessiliflora (Naud.) Cogn.; for former has essentially sessile cordate-based leaves and the latter somewhat projecting extemal calyx teeth. Clidemia trinitensis (Crueg.) Griseb. has leaves similar in shape and venation, but developed setulae on the young stems, petioles, leaf blade margins, and primary leaf veins beneath, as well as flowers aggregated in the leaf axils and extemal calyx teeth somewhat projecting.