Meriania neblinensis Wurdack
-
Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1969. The botany of the Guayana Highland-part VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 18: 1-290.
-
Family
Melastomataceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - M. sclerophyllae (Naud.) Triana affinis, foliis bene petiolatis oblongo-ellipticis trinervatis calycis lobis non glandulifero-setosis differt. RamuH teretes sicut folia subtus inflorescentia hypanthiaque densissime pilis pinoideis vel pinoideo-stellatis (ramis numerosis flexuosis ascendentibus ca 0.1 mm longis) 0.1-0.2 mm longis nigro-rufescentibus obsiti. Petioli 2-4 cm longi; lamina 7-8.5 X 3-4 cm oblongo-elliptica apice rotundato crasse apiculato basi rotundata, rigida et Integra, supra primum sparse stellulato-lepidota mox glabrata, trinervata nervis primariis lateralibus ca 3 mm inframarginalibus nervis secundariis ca 2 mm inter se distantibus nervulis reticulatis supra obscure elevatis subtus ob indumentum occultis. Inflorescentia pauciflora (ca 5-flora), pedunculo ca 5 cm longo, floribus 5-meris, pedicellis 0.7-1 cm longis, bracteolis delapsis non visis. Hypanthium (ad torum) 7-7.5 mm longum inconspicue hebeti-costatum; calycis tubus 3.5-4 mm longus, lobis interioribus ovatis 2 mm longis, dentibus exterioribus crassis lobos interiores aequantibus. Petala 28 X 16-17 mm glabra oblongo-obovata apice rotundato-truncato. Stamina dimorphica glabra; filamenta 9 vel 12 mm longa; antherarum thecae declinatae subulato-curvatae uniporosae (poro paulo dorsaUter inchnato 0.2 mm diam) 8.5 vel 5 mm longae, connectivo non prolongato ad basim dorsaliter dente 0.8 mm alto soHtario vel dentibus duobus 0.2-0.3 mm altis et appendice ascendente hebeti per 2.7 vel 2 mm libera 0.7 mm lata ornato. Stigma punctiforme; stylus 14 X 0.7- 0.2 mm glaber; ovarium oblongum biloculare glabrum apice rotundato.
-
Discussion
Type Collection: N. T. Silva & U. Brazao 60929 (unicate; holotype NY), collected in scrub forest on Serra Pirapucu, Serra da Neblina, Amazonas, Brazil, elev 1300-1700 m, 27 Jan 1966. "Shrub 0.8 m. Calyx ferrugineous; corolla rose; anthers yellow."
Meriania sclerophylla has essentially sessile (petioles 0.2-0.5 cm long) leaves which are cordate-based and ovate to ovate-oblong, as well as glandular-setulose calyx lobes and petals only 15-18 X 10-12 m m . The wide-spread M . urceolata is somewhat suggestive of M . neblinensis, but has acuminate 5-nerved leaves, truncate limb, and petals 11-17 X 7-10 m m . Only one flower from the limited material of M . neblinensis was dissected, so the constant taxonomic value of the bilocular ovary could not be assessed.