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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: Peru, Poeppig s.n. (P!).

Description: Shrub 1.5-3 m tall, the terete uppermost internodes, petioles, both surfaces of very young leaves, primary veins on abaxial surface of mature leaves and inflorescence, sparsely to moderately but deciduously stellulate-furfuraceous and granular-lepidote. Leaves of a pair essentially equal in size; blades 5.3-14.3 x 1.7-5.8 cm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 5-plinerved with the innermost pair of primaries diverging from the midvein 0.4-1.5 mm above the blade base, apex caudate-acuminate, base acute, the margin obscurely serrulate and appressed-ciliolate to subentire, the adaxial surface sparingly stellulate-furfuraceous to completely glabrous, the abaxial surface essentially glabrous between the primaries. Inflorescence consisting of 3-10 flowers in aggregated fascicles mostly less than 1 cm long in opposite axils of upper leaves; flowers 4-merous and sessile; bracteoles ovate, persistent, 0.5 x 0.5 mm. Hypanthia sparsely to moderately stellulate-furfuraceous. Calyx lobes 0.2-0.25 x 0.5 mm, ovate to semicircular, glabrous; exterior calyx teeth subulate, 0.75-1 mm long, glabrate or with a sparse indument like the hypanthium. Petals glabrous, white, narrowly triangular, 2-2.5 x 0.8-1 mm, bluntly acute apically and beset with a subapical mucro on the abaxial (external) surface. Filaments 2.5 mm long, anthers 2-2.5 mm long, yellow with a somewhat dorsally inclined pore; connective neither prolonged dorso-basally nor appendaged. Ovary 3-locular, 2/3-inferior, apex glabrous with a low elevated rim surrounding the stylar scar. Berry dull to deep blue at maturity, 2.5-3 x 2.5-3 mm when dry. Seeds ca. 0.75 mm long, the testa somewhat angulate and obscurely granulate.

Habitat and Distribution: Uncommon in cloud forest, rain forest and forest margins. 500-1300 m. Also in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador south to Bolivia. COSTA RICA (Chacón 250, CAS); PANAMA (Aranda et al. 1574, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: A little-collected species in Central America but not confused with other Clidemias because of its sessile 4-merous flowers in fascicled axillary clusters, triangular petals with a subapical external mucro, and 3-locular ovary.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]