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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 4: 308. 1823

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: Isotype: Peru, Pavón s.n. (P!).

Description: Shrubs 1-4 m tall, the branchlets and hypanthia moderately hirsute with smooth hairs 1-2.5 mm long, underlain by a sparse to dense cover of stellulate hairs. Leaves 5-plinerved, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 7-20.5 cm long, 3-9 cm wide, above and below moderately strigillose with smooth hairs 0.5-1 mm long, apex gradually acuminate, base obtuse or rounded and typically oblique, the margin ciliate-denticulate. Inflorescence 2-3 cm long, a pseudolateral cyme typically branched from near the base; flowers 5-merous, subsessile, the linear-oblong bracteoles 1.5-2 X 0.5 mm. The calyx consisting of a truncate rim ca 0.5-0.75 mm high obscured and exceeded by the subulate teeth 2-5.5 mm long; the torus within bearing 10 triangular, fimbriate or ciliolate scales 0.5-1 mm long. Petals white, glabrous, oblong to obovate-oblong, 5-6 X 2-3 mm. Filaments 2-3 mm long; anther sacs white, 2-3 mm long with a dorsally inclined pore; connective prolonged ca 0.2 mm but not appendaged dorsally. Ovary 5-locular, 1/3 inferior, the apical cone 0.5 mm high crowned by a tubular, distally lobulate collar 0.5-0.75 mm long; berry 7-9 mm diam, dark blue when ripe. Seeds rugulate or granulate, dark brown, 0.5 mm long; 2n=34.

Habitat and Distribution: Common, disturbed sites, lowland rain forest margins. 0-400 (-800) m; Southern Mexico (Veracruz southward) to Colombia east to French Guiana, south to Bolivia and Brazil. MEXICO: Tabasco (Cowan 2010, CAS); Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 57871, CAS); BELIZE (Davidse 36866, CAS); GUATEMALA (Contreras 10120, CAS); NICARAGUA (Narvaez 3242, CAS); COSTA RICA (Folsom 9387, CAS); PANAMA (Galdames 2882, CAS)

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]