Monographs Details:
Authority:
Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114. (Published by NYBG Press)
Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005.
Family:
Melastomataceae
Melastomataceae
Description:
Subspecies Description - Leaves with adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with a mix of short lepidote hairs and very sparse, long, glandular setae on the nerves and remaining surface glabrous, the apex obtuse.
Subspecies Description - Leaves with adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with a mix of short lepidote hairs and very sparse, long, glandular setae on the nerves and remaining surface glabrous, the apex obtuse.
Discussion:
Tococa tepuiensis is very similar to the rarely collected T. erioneura, although it differs in the pubescence of leaves and stems and some floral characters. Most importantly, however, T. tepuiensis lacks the blunt tooth at the base of the dorsal connective of the anther.The two subspecies are differentiated on the basis of the leaf pubescence and the apex shape. Even though the amount of intraspecific variation in the leaf pubescence is such that it might warrant the differentiation of the two subspecies described by Wurdack, there are specimens that exhibit a high degree of variation, most noticeably at Cerro La Neblina and Sierra de Parima. Leaf and stem pubescence is a highly variable character in other taxa of Tococa (see discussion under T. guianensis). Likewise, in at least one instance, it has proven to be a useful character to differentiate between taxa (T. bolivarensis and T. raggiana). Therefore, the study of a larger number of populations and specimens is necessary to carefully evaluate the status of these two subspecies.
Tococa tepuiensis is very similar to the rarely collected T. erioneura, although it differs in the pubescence of leaves and stems and some floral characters. Most importantly, however, T. tepuiensis lacks the blunt tooth at the base of the dorsal connective of the anther.The two subspecies are differentiated on the basis of the leaf pubescence and the apex shape. Even though the amount of intraspecific variation in the leaf pubescence is such that it might warrant the differentiation of the two subspecies described by Wurdack, there are specimens that exhibit a high degree of variation, most noticeably at Cerro La Neblina and Sierra de Parima. Leaf and stem pubescence is a highly variable character in other taxa of Tococa (see discussion under T. guianensis). Likewise, in at least one instance, it has proven to be a useful character to differentiate between taxa (T. bolivarensis and T. raggiana). Therefore, the study of a larger number of populations and specimens is necessary to carefully evaluate the status of these two subspecies.
Distribution:
Amazonas Venezuela South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|
Amazonas Venezuela South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|