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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

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: Nicaragua, Williams et al. 23858 (F!).

Description: Shrubs 1-3 m tall, the branchlets, petioles, and primary leaf veins below moderately to densely bristly pubescent with antrorsely to widely spreading smooth hairs 1-2 mm long. Leaves 5-7-nerved, elliptic-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 7-15 cm long, 3-7 cm wide, above moderately strigose with smooth hairs 1-2 mm long, apex acuminate, base rounded, the margin serrulate to subentire. Flowers 4-merous, sessile or subsessile (with pedicels to 0.5 mm) in fascicles of 2-4 (sometimes solitary) in the upper leaf axils, the subulate bracteoles 0.5-1.5 X 0.5 mm. Hypanthia moderately to sparsely covered with smooth spreading, mostly eglandular hairs 0.5-1 mm long, underlain with a resinous-granular ground layer. Calyx lobes broadly ovate, 0.5 X 1 mm, the setulose subulate teeth 0.5 mm long. Petals white, glabrous except for a subapical glandular hair 0.5-1 mm long, oblong-obovate, l.5-2 X 1-1.5 mm. Filaments 2-2.5 mm long; anther sacs drying pale yellow, 2.5-3 mm long with a somewhat dorsally inclined pore; connective prolonged ca 0.25 mm but not appendaged. Ovary 3-4-locular, 1/2-2/3 inferior, the apex glabrous; berry 4-6 mm diam, purplish-black when ripe. Seeds granulate, orange-brown, 0.5 mm long; 2n=34.

Habitat and Distribution: Uncommon, disturbed sites, secondary thickets, lower montane rain forest.400-1450 m. Southern Mexico (Veracruz) and Venezuela. MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove 49029, CAS); BELIZE (Meave & Howe 1091, MO); HONDURAS (Molina 1975:83); NICARAGUA (Moreno & Sandino 7839, CAS); COSTA RICA (Morales et al. 1585, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 7688, CAS);

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]