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:
Species Description - Shrub up to 1.5 m; stems pubescent, the trichomes glandular, up to 4 mm long. Leaves slightly aniso-phyllous, 18-25 X 10-13 cm, 5-nervate, membranaceous, elliptic to ovate, base round to obtuse, apex shortly accuminate to caudate; petioles 2-4 cm long, with pubescence as on the stems; domatia present, fusiform, 1.2-1.7 X 0.7-1.1 cm, the apical 1/3-1/5 immersed in the blade. Inflorescence terminal, highly reduced, resembling a capitulum, with 20-35 flowers. Flowers sessile; bracts absent; hypanthium 5 mm long, puberulent; outer calyx teeth reduced over the inner teeth, inner calyx teeth ovate up to 4 mm long, pubescent; petals 5, white; anthers 10, all the same size, a blunt, reduced, dorsal, connective tooth present; ovary partly inferior; style glabrous; stigma capitate. Tococa undabunda is known only from the type collection. Macbride suggested that this species could be related to T. racemifera, based on the domatia, which are fusiform and partially immersed in the blade. The compressed and capitate inflorescence resembles that of T. capitata, although T. undabunda lacks the characteristic bracts of T. capitata. However, leaf shape and pubescence as well as the overall morphology of the hypanthium and calyx resemble those of T. guianensis and closely related species. In fact, the similarities in floral characters suggest that it may be only a form of T. guianensis with compressed inflorescences. Without more material, it is difficult to assess the real status of this taxon, given that some specimens of T. guianensis have inflorescences with different levels of compression and reduction of the different axes.
Species Description - Shrub up to 1.5 m; stems pubescent, the trichomes glandular, up to 4 mm long. Leaves slightly aniso-phyllous, 18-25 X 10-13 cm, 5-nervate, membranaceous, elliptic to ovate, base round to obtuse, apex shortly accuminate to caudate; petioles 2-4 cm long, with pubescence as on the stems; domatia present, fusiform, 1.2-1.7 X 0.7-1.1 cm, the apical 1/3-1/5 immersed in the blade. Inflorescence terminal, highly reduced, resembling a capitulum, with 20-35 flowers. Flowers sessile; bracts absent; hypanthium 5 mm long, puberulent; outer calyx teeth reduced over the inner teeth, inner calyx teeth ovate up to 4 mm long, pubescent; petals 5, white; anthers 10, all the same size, a blunt, reduced, dorsal, connective tooth present; ovary partly inferior; style glabrous; stigma capitate. Tococa undabunda is known only from the type collection. Macbride suggested that this species could be related to T. racemifera, based on the domatia, which are fusiform and partially immersed in the blade. The compressed and capitate inflorescence resembles that of T. capitata, although T. undabunda lacks the characteristic bracts of T. capitata. However, leaf shape and pubescence as well as the overall morphology of the hypanthium and calyx resemble those of T. guianensis and closely related species. In fact, the similarities in floral characters suggest that it may be only a form of T. guianensis with compressed inflorescences. Without more material, it is difficult to assess the real status of this taxon, given that some specimens of T. guianensis have inflorescences with different levels of compression and reduction of the different axes.
Distribution:
Peru South America| Junín Peru South America|
Peru South America| Junín Peru South America|