Taxon Details: Miconia cubensis (C.Wright ex Griseb.) C.Wright
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Family:
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:
Miconia cubensis (C.Wright ex Griseb.) C.Wright
Miconia cubensis (C.Wright ex Griseb.) C.Wright
Primary Citation:
Anales Acad. Ci. Méd. Habana 5: 465. 1869
Anales Acad. Ci. Méd. Habana 5: 465. 1869
Accepted Name:
This name is currently accepted.
This name is currently accepted.
Description:
Description Author and Date: Walter S. Judd, 2010, based on Judd, W. S. (2007). Revision of Miconia sect. Chaenopleura (Melastomataceae) in the Greater Antilles. Systematic Botany Monographs 81:1-235.
Type: CUBA. Prov. Pinar del Río: Arroyo Ventecinco, San Cristóbal (6 Jul, 29 Mar), Rangel (7 Aug, 16 Oct), [Sierra de los Organos], 1860-1864, C. Wright 2514 (holotype: GOET!; isotypes: BM!, GH!, GOET!, MO!, NY (2 sheets)!), S!. Four different collections of C. Wright have been combined under a single number by A. Gray and distributed; original labels at GH, NY, GOET.
Description: Shrub or small tree to 5 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, irregularly stellate-branched or elongate-branched hairs, globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely also with sparsely scattered long-stalked, gland-headed hairs to 1.2 mm long. Young twigs not ridged, ± rectangular to narrowly rectangular in cross-section, 3-6 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of sparse (to moderate), ± globular-stellate or elongate-branched hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely with very sparse, long-stalked, gland-headed hairs, sometimes becoming ± glabrous with age; internodes 1.3-3.8 (-5.7) cm long. Leaves with petiole 1-5.7 cm long, the indumentum sparse abaxially and dense to moderate adaxially, elongate-branched or ± globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely with a few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs; blade 6-18.5 (-19) cm long, 1.9-5.3 (-6.6) cm wide, ovate to elliptic, flat, coriaceous, the apex acuminate to acute, the base acute to rounded, the margin plane to revolute, serrulate, especially distally, ca 0-16% of margin entire, but sometimes appearing ± entire throughout due to revolute margin, the largest teeth 0.1-0.2 mm long; venation acrodromous, ± basal, with prominent midvein and 4 secondary veins, with 2 conspicuous secondary veins placed 3-9 mm in from margin, 2 inconspicuous secondary veins closer to margin, and numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins connected by percurrent quaternary veins, higher-order veins ± orthogonal reticulate; adaxial surface green, the indumentum initially of ± sparse stellate-branched to globular-stellate hairs, but very quickly glabrescent, the midvein and major secondary veins slightly to moderately impressed, minor secondary, tertiary, and quaternary veins slightly impressed to flat, and higher-order veins flat, the surface appearing wrinkled after drying, with scattered druse crystals; abaxial surface pale green or green with red veins, sometimes red tinged even on lamina, often turning ± yellow after drying, sparsely to moderately covered with irregularly stellate-branched or globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, those on major veins to 0.1-0.5 mm across, those on minor veins and lamina to 0.04-0.4 mm across (and more frequently minute-globular), sometimes with a few elongate-branched hairs or rarely a few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs on midvein, the midvein and major secondary veins prominently raised, minor secondary veins slightly raised, tertiary and quaternary veins slightly raised to flat, remaining veins flat.
Description (cont.): Inflorescences many-flowered, paniculate cymes of 3 to 6 branch pairs, 3.7-19 cm long, 2.5-9 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 0.8-3.9 cm long, distal internodes shorter, ultimate branches 2-11 mm long, with sparse to moderate, stellate-globular to minute-globular hairs, very rarely also a very few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs; peduncle 2.4-8.8 cm long, with similar, usually sparse indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with early caducous, ovate to obovate bract, ca 4-12 mm long, 1.3-5 mm wide, the apices acute to acuminate, the lower pair sometimes expanded and leaf-like; flowers in dichasia, distinctly separated from each other, each subtended by 2 caducous, ± linear or elliptic to obovate bracteoles 2.5-9.8 mm long, 0.8-5.7 mm wide, the indumentum of sparse to moderate, ± stellate to minute-globular hairs, their apices acute, acuminate, to ± rounded, and margin entire to occasionally irregularly serrate. Flowers ± sessile to shortly pedicellate, the pedicel ± 0-1 mm. Hypanthium cylindrical, free portion ca 1.6-2.2 mm long, the outer surface with sparse to moderate globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs, the inner surface glabrous and prominently ridged, with 10 major ridges alternating with 10 minor ones, the apices of the major ridges projecting, to 0.1-0.2 mm. External calyx lobes 5, 0.2-0.9 mm long, 1.9-2.6 mm wide, triangular to broadly so, with obtuse to acuminate apex, indumentum of sparse to moderate globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs; internal calyx lobes 5, 1.3-2.4 mm long, 1.8-3 mm wide, ovate-triangular to ± orbicular, green to reddish, with sparse minutely branched to unbranched hairs, the apex rounded, the margin entire, sometimes with a few branched hairs; calyx tube 0.5-0.75 mm long, occasionally tearing slightly between calyx lobes. Petals 5, 4.6-5.7 mm long, 2.6-3.5 mm wide, broadly ovate to elliptic, glabrous, white, often pink tinged; margin entire. Stamens 10, geniculate; proximal segment 2-2.9 mm long; distal segment 3.1-3.6 mm long, with minute dorsal projection, the anther 2.3-2.9 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 1.7-2.3 mm long, the connective/distal part of filament extended 0.5-1.2 mm beyond the base of the anther sacs. Ovary (4- or) 5-loculate, ca 1/2 to 2/3-inferior, ca 2.8-3.3 mm long, 3.8-4.8 mm in diameter, ± shortly ovoid, glabrous and 10-ridged, with fluted apical projection to 0.1-0.2 mm encircling the base of style; style 3.5-5.3 mm long, glabrous; stigma truncate. Berries 6-10 mm in diameter, globose, red when immature and turning blue at maturity, with very sparse to sparse globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs. Seeds 0.5-0.8 mm long, angular-obovoid; testa smooth. Fig. 21.
Habitat and Distribution: Cuba, Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus, in the provinces of Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos; moist montane forests; ca 700 to 1050 m; a few collections are from the Sierra de los Organos, in the province of Pinar del Rio. Some associated species are listed in Borhidi & Muñiz (1986) and Borhidi (1991).
Phenology: Recorded in flower from December through March and June through August; possibly flowering throughout the year.
Taxonomy and Systematics: The phylogenetic position of Miconia cubensis is problematic, but it may be related to M. calycina and M. zanonii, as evidenced by its usually 5-locular ovaries and large berries. Like M. zanonii, its leaves may be red-tinged, and they sometimes dry yellowish green. It is easily distinguished from M. calycina because its calyx tube usually does not tear between the calyx lobes, the lobes themselves are differently shaped, and its leaves usually possess a yellowish color after drying. It can be separated from M. zanonii by the presence of at least a few stellate hairs on the abaxial surface of the mature leaves (see key) and larger flowers, i.e., internal calyx lobes 1.3-2.4 mm long (vs. 1-1.1 mm long), petals 4.6-5.7 mm long (vs. 2.4-2.8 mm long), stamens 5.1-6.5 mm long (vs. ca 3.7 cm long) with anthers 2.3-2.9 mm long (vs. ca 1.9 mm long). These species are geographically isolated because only M. cubensis usually occurs in the Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus of central Cuba (Fig. 23), although the type gathering is from Pinar del Rio. Miconia cubensis is also phenetically similar to M. alternifolia and M. skeaniana, which also are restricted to Cuba, but do not co-occur with M. cubensis (Fig. 27). Miconia cubensis is readily distinguished from these species by its more sparsely stellate-pubescent leaves abaxially, more or less paniculate (vs. broadly rounded) inflorescences, longer internal calyx lobes (i.e., 1.3-2.4 mm vs. 0.5-1.5 mm long), larger petals (4.6-5.7 mm vs. 2.8-4.2 mm long), and usually 5-loculate (vs. 3- or 2-loculate) ovaries. Some plants of M. cubensis have leaves with mostly minute-globular hairs on lamina and high-order veins abaxially, with stellate hairs quickly deciduous; other plants have mostly ferrugineous, globular-stellate hairs; many are intermediate with both minute-globular and stellate hairs. There is also wide variation is size of stellate-branched hairs. This variation is not geographically correlated, and all are considered here within M. cubensis. More collections from Pinar del Rio are needed. The populations of the Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus are very similar to those few specimens known from Pinar del Rico. The central Cuban populations could possibly represent an undescribed taxon, but its description would be premature, given our incomplete understanding of the pattern of variation in the group. The Pinar del Rio plants have slightly undulate floral bracteoles (vs. bracteoles with entire margins) and their leaves apparently do not become yellow upon drying (as do those of individuals from the central Cuban populations). Plants from Pinar del Rio and Cienfuegos/Sancti Spiritus are not distinguishable using any other character measured as part of this study, and these plants here are retained within M. cubensis.
Description Author and Date: Walter S. Judd, 2010, based on Judd, W. S. (2007). Revision of Miconia sect. Chaenopleura (Melastomataceae) in the Greater Antilles. Systematic Botany Monographs 81:1-235.
Type: CUBA. Prov. Pinar del Río: Arroyo Ventecinco, San Cristóbal (6 Jul, 29 Mar), Rangel (7 Aug, 16 Oct), [Sierra de los Organos], 1860-1864, C. Wright 2514 (holotype: GOET!; isotypes: BM!, GH!, GOET!, MO!, NY (2 sheets)!), S!. Four different collections of C. Wright have been combined under a single number by A. Gray and distributed; original labels at GH, NY, GOET.
Description: Shrub or small tree to 5 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, irregularly stellate-branched or elongate-branched hairs, globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely also with sparsely scattered long-stalked, gland-headed hairs to 1.2 mm long. Young twigs not ridged, ± rectangular to narrowly rectangular in cross-section, 3-6 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of sparse (to moderate), ± globular-stellate or elongate-branched hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely with very sparse, long-stalked, gland-headed hairs, sometimes becoming ± glabrous with age; internodes 1.3-3.8 (-5.7) cm long. Leaves with petiole 1-5.7 cm long, the indumentum sparse abaxially and dense to moderate adaxially, elongate-branched or ± globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, rarely with a few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs; blade 6-18.5 (-19) cm long, 1.9-5.3 (-6.6) cm wide, ovate to elliptic, flat, coriaceous, the apex acuminate to acute, the base acute to rounded, the margin plane to revolute, serrulate, especially distally, ca 0-16% of margin entire, but sometimes appearing ± entire throughout due to revolute margin, the largest teeth 0.1-0.2 mm long; venation acrodromous, ± basal, with prominent midvein and 4 secondary veins, with 2 conspicuous secondary veins placed 3-9 mm in from margin, 2 inconspicuous secondary veins closer to margin, and numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins connected by percurrent quaternary veins, higher-order veins ± orthogonal reticulate; adaxial surface green, the indumentum initially of ± sparse stellate-branched to globular-stellate hairs, but very quickly glabrescent, the midvein and major secondary veins slightly to moderately impressed, minor secondary, tertiary, and quaternary veins slightly impressed to flat, and higher-order veins flat, the surface appearing wrinkled after drying, with scattered druse crystals; abaxial surface pale green or green with red veins, sometimes red tinged even on lamina, often turning ± yellow after drying, sparsely to moderately covered with irregularly stellate-branched or globular-stellate hairs, to minute-globular hairs, those on major veins to 0.1-0.5 mm across, those on minor veins and lamina to 0.04-0.4 mm across (and more frequently minute-globular), sometimes with a few elongate-branched hairs or rarely a few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs on midvein, the midvein and major secondary veins prominently raised, minor secondary veins slightly raised, tertiary and quaternary veins slightly raised to flat, remaining veins flat.
Description (cont.): Inflorescences many-flowered, paniculate cymes of 3 to 6 branch pairs, 3.7-19 cm long, 2.5-9 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 0.8-3.9 cm long, distal internodes shorter, ultimate branches 2-11 mm long, with sparse to moderate, stellate-globular to minute-globular hairs, very rarely also a very few long-stalked, gland-headed hairs; peduncle 2.4-8.8 cm long, with similar, usually sparse indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with early caducous, ovate to obovate bract, ca 4-12 mm long, 1.3-5 mm wide, the apices acute to acuminate, the lower pair sometimes expanded and leaf-like; flowers in dichasia, distinctly separated from each other, each subtended by 2 caducous, ± linear or elliptic to obovate bracteoles 2.5-9.8 mm long, 0.8-5.7 mm wide, the indumentum of sparse to moderate, ± stellate to minute-globular hairs, their apices acute, acuminate, to ± rounded, and margin entire to occasionally irregularly serrate. Flowers ± sessile to shortly pedicellate, the pedicel ± 0-1 mm. Hypanthium cylindrical, free portion ca 1.6-2.2 mm long, the outer surface with sparse to moderate globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs, the inner surface glabrous and prominently ridged, with 10 major ridges alternating with 10 minor ones, the apices of the major ridges projecting, to 0.1-0.2 mm. External calyx lobes 5, 0.2-0.9 mm long, 1.9-2.6 mm wide, triangular to broadly so, with obtuse to acuminate apex, indumentum of sparse to moderate globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs; internal calyx lobes 5, 1.3-2.4 mm long, 1.8-3 mm wide, ovate-triangular to ± orbicular, green to reddish, with sparse minutely branched to unbranched hairs, the apex rounded, the margin entire, sometimes with a few branched hairs; calyx tube 0.5-0.75 mm long, occasionally tearing slightly between calyx lobes. Petals 5, 4.6-5.7 mm long, 2.6-3.5 mm wide, broadly ovate to elliptic, glabrous, white, often pink tinged; margin entire. Stamens 10, geniculate; proximal segment 2-2.9 mm long; distal segment 3.1-3.6 mm long, with minute dorsal projection, the anther 2.3-2.9 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 1.7-2.3 mm long, the connective/distal part of filament extended 0.5-1.2 mm beyond the base of the anther sacs. Ovary (4- or) 5-loculate, ca 1/2 to 2/3-inferior, ca 2.8-3.3 mm long, 3.8-4.8 mm in diameter, ± shortly ovoid, glabrous and 10-ridged, with fluted apical projection to 0.1-0.2 mm encircling the base of style; style 3.5-5.3 mm long, glabrous; stigma truncate. Berries 6-10 mm in diameter, globose, red when immature and turning blue at maturity, with very sparse to sparse globular-stellate to minute-globular hairs. Seeds 0.5-0.8 mm long, angular-obovoid; testa smooth. Fig. 21.
Habitat and Distribution: Cuba, Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus, in the provinces of Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos; moist montane forests; ca 700 to 1050 m; a few collections are from the Sierra de los Organos, in the province of Pinar del Rio. Some associated species are listed in Borhidi & Muñiz (1986) and Borhidi (1991).
Phenology: Recorded in flower from December through March and June through August; possibly flowering throughout the year.
Taxonomy and Systematics: The phylogenetic position of Miconia cubensis is problematic, but it may be related to M. calycina and M. zanonii, as evidenced by its usually 5-locular ovaries and large berries. Like M. zanonii, its leaves may be red-tinged, and they sometimes dry yellowish green. It is easily distinguished from M. calycina because its calyx tube usually does not tear between the calyx lobes, the lobes themselves are differently shaped, and its leaves usually possess a yellowish color after drying. It can be separated from M. zanonii by the presence of at least a few stellate hairs on the abaxial surface of the mature leaves (see key) and larger flowers, i.e., internal calyx lobes 1.3-2.4 mm long (vs. 1-1.1 mm long), petals 4.6-5.7 mm long (vs. 2.4-2.8 mm long), stamens 5.1-6.5 mm long (vs. ca 3.7 cm long) with anthers 2.3-2.9 mm long (vs. ca 1.9 mm long). These species are geographically isolated because only M. cubensis usually occurs in the Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus of central Cuba (Fig. 23), although the type gathering is from Pinar del Rio. Miconia cubensis is also phenetically similar to M. alternifolia and M. skeaniana, which also are restricted to Cuba, but do not co-occur with M. cubensis (Fig. 27). Miconia cubensis is readily distinguished from these species by its more sparsely stellate-pubescent leaves abaxially, more or less paniculate (vs. broadly rounded) inflorescences, longer internal calyx lobes (i.e., 1.3-2.4 mm vs. 0.5-1.5 mm long), larger petals (4.6-5.7 mm vs. 2.8-4.2 mm long), and usually 5-loculate (vs. 3- or 2-loculate) ovaries. Some plants of M. cubensis have leaves with mostly minute-globular hairs on lamina and high-order veins abaxially, with stellate hairs quickly deciduous; other plants have mostly ferrugineous, globular-stellate hairs; many are intermediate with both minute-globular and stellate hairs. There is also wide variation is size of stellate-branched hairs. This variation is not geographically correlated, and all are considered here within M. cubensis. More collections from Pinar del Rio are needed. The populations of the Sierra de Trinidad and Sierra de Sancti Spiritus are very similar to those few specimens known from Pinar del Rico. The central Cuban populations could possibly represent an undescribed taxon, but its description would be premature, given our incomplete understanding of the pattern of variation in the group. The Pinar del Rio plants have slightly undulate floral bracteoles (vs. bracteoles with entire margins) and their leaves apparently do not become yellow upon drying (as do those of individuals from the central Cuban populations). Plants from Pinar del Rio and Cienfuegos/Sancti Spiritus are not distinguishable using any other character measured as part of this study, and these plants here are retained within M. cubensis.