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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Syst. Bot. Monogr. 39: 62. 1993

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Description:

Description Author and Date: James D. Skean, Jr., January 2011, based on Skean, J. D., Jr. 1993. Monograph of Mecranium (Melastomataceae-Miconieae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 39: 1-116.

Type: CUBA. Oriente [Holguín]: wet woods, Delta Mines, Moa, Alain et al. 914 (holotype: NY!; isotype: HAC!).

Latin diagnosis: Subspecies haec a subspecie integrifolio differt foliis glabris crassioribus, venulis abaxialibus plerumque elevatis.

Description: Shrub or small tree with leaves very coriaceous, blade 0.5-0.7 mm thick; abaxial surface appearing essentially glabrous, lacking hairs in axils at junction of midvein and largest pair of secondary veins, smallest veinlets raised in dried material (viewed at 20x or higher magnification). Fig. 27(D-G).

Habitat and Distribution: Cuba: hardwood forests and disturbed areas in mountains of Holguín and Guantánamo provinces: the Cuchillas de Moa, Cuchillas de Toa, Cuchillas de Baracoa, Sierra de Imías, and Sierra de Purial; (-200) 400-900 (-1060) m. Specimens intermediate between this taxon and subsp. integrifolium are known from populations in the Altiplanicie de Nipé, Sierra del Cristal, and Meseta del Guaso. For discussions of the vegetation of these regions see Alain (1946, 1956), Capote & Berazaín (1984), Carabia (1945), León (1941), Shafer (1910), and Webster & Jervis (1952). (Fig. 28).

Taxonomy and Systematics: Mecranium integrifolium subsp. alainii is endemic to the wet hardwood forests scattered among the serpentine pinelands of the northeastern part of what was formerly known as Oriente Province. This taxon has thick leaves that lack abaxial tufts of hairs, and which usually have their smallest veinlets raised abaxially. Plants from different populations are variable in leaf shape, thickness, and the degree to which the smallest veinlets are raised. The most distinctive, thickest-leaved individuals occur in the Moa-Baracoa region. These populations have been recognized by Alain (1957) and Bisse et al. (1985) as M. purpurascens, a species with different anther structure, which is endemic to Jamaica (see discussion under M. purpurascens). As stated above, complete morphological intergradation between these thick-leaved populations and more typical plants of M. integrifolium can be seen in specimens from the Sierra de Nipé and Sierra del Cristal. See Alain (1946, 1954), Bisse & González (1981), Bisse et al. (1981, 1985) and Webster (1952) for discussions of the vegetation in the Moa-Toa-Baracoa region, Carabia (1945) and Shafer (1910) for discussions of the vegetation of the Sierra de Nipé, and Alain (1956) for a discussion of the vegetation of the Sierra del Cristal. Careful study of this variable taxon in the field is needed to determine if various geographically isolated populations warrant formal taxonomic recognition. For now, it is useful to recognize these plants as a geographical subspecies, which I have named for Alain H. Liogier (b. 1916), who collected the type specimen.

Notes: See additional information: Mecranium integrifolium (Naudin) Triana