Taxon Details: Clidemia donnell-smithii Cogn.
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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:

Clidemia donnell-smithii Cogn.
Primary Citation:

Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 16: 5. 1891
Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.
Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Isotype -- H. von Türckheim
Specimen 2: Isotype -- H. von Türckheim
Description:

Description Author and Date: Frank Almeda, based on Almeda, F. (2009). Melastomataceae. In: G. Davidse, M. Sousa-Sânchez, S. Knapp, & F. Chiang (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana: Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): 164-338.

Type: Holotype: Guatemala, von Tuerckheim 1435 (BR!)

Description: Shrub 1-3 m tall, the terete uppermost internodes, petioles and elevated primary veins on abaxial foliar surfaces beset with antrorsely spreading smooth hairs 3-6 mm long overlying a dense indument of slender smooth loosely appressed hairs 1-2 mm long. Leaves of a pair ± equal to unequal in size, the blades 6.4-20 x 3.2-10 cm, oblong-ovate, 5-7-nerved, apex acuminate, base rounded, the margin obscurely denticulate and ciliate, the adaxial surface sparsely hirsute with spreading smooth hairs 1-1.5 mm long, the secondary and higher order veins on the abaxial surface copiously to moderately covered with smooth spreading hairs 1-2 mm long. Inflorescence axillary (often paired) few-flowered dichasia 1.5-4 cm long branched from the base on defoliated nodes; flowers 4-merous on pedicels 1.5-3 mm long with an indument of spreading smooth hairs 1-2 mm long; bracts and bracteoles subulate to nearly acicular, persistent, 1.5-2 mm long (including terminal hair). Hypanthium moderately covered with smooth spreading hairs 1-3 mm long overlying a sparse inconspicuous ground cover of deciduous appressed slender hairs up to 0.5 mm long. Calyx lobes 1-1.5 x 1-1.5 mm, triangular to rounded-triangular; exterior calyx teeth subulate, 1.5-2 mm long (including the apical hair) with smooth spreading hairs like the hypanthium. Petals glabrous, pink or white, oblong, 4-6 x 1.5-2 mm. Filaments 2 mm long, conspicuously constricted just below the anther sacs, anthers 2-2.5 x 0.5 mm, yellow; connective thickened dorsally and prolonged about 0.25 mm below the anther thecae but not appendaged. Ovary 4-locular, 2/3-inferior, apex glabrous, initially with a shallow crateriform stylar scar becoming rounded in fruit. Berry red, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds 0.5 mm long, the testa minutely asperulate.

Habitat and Distribution: Local in lowland and lower montane rainforests. 400-1230 m. MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 57895, CAS); GUATEMALA (Luteyn & Almeda 3527, CAS). (Endemic).

Taxonomy and Systematics: In the protologue the type specimen of this species is erroneously cited as von Tuerckheim 1433. This species is readily distinguished by its 4-merous flowers borne in few-flowered basally branched dichasia at defoliated nodes and by the cauline pubescence that consists of antrorsely spreading smooth hairs overlying a dense indument of loosely appressed slender hairs.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]