Taxon Profile:

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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Brittonia 3: 122. 1939

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Holotype -- H. F. Pittier

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: Guatemala, Pittier 276 (NY!).

Description: Shrub 0.5-2.5 m tall, the terete uppermost internodes, petioles, and inflorescence axes moderately to sparsely hirsute with smooth spreading hairs 2.5-9 mm long. Leaves of a pair equal to unequal in size; blades 6.3-17.5 x 3.5-8.5 cm, oblong-ovate to elliptic, 3-5-nerved or 3-5-plinerved, apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded and often inaequilateral, the margin denticulate, the adaxial surface moderately covered with prevailingly smooth spreading hairs 1.5-5 mm long, the abaxial surface beset with prevailingly smooth hairs 1.5-4(-7) mm long on the primary and higher order veins and a sparse ground cover of minute glands on the primaries. Inflorescence a pseudolateral modified dichasium 3-8 cm long that is typically branched from the base; flowers 5-merous on pedicels that lengthen to 4-8 mm long on the infructescence; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate to oblong, persistent, 4-10 x 0.5-2 mm, glabrous on both surfaces with hirsute-ciliate margins. Hypanthium moderately to sparsely hirsute with spreading smooth hairs (a few of which may be gland-tipped) 2.5-4 mm long, sparingly underlain with minute glands. Calyx lobes 1-1.5 x 1-1.5 mm, ovate-oblong to semicircular; exterior calyx teeth subulate, 5-9 mm long (incl. the terminal hair), with an indument like the hypanthium. Petals glabrous, translucent white, oblong-obovate, 6.5-9 x 3-4.5 mm. Filaments 2.5-3 mm long, anthers 2.5-3 mm long, white with a truncate pore; connective thickened dorsally and prolonged less than 0.25 mm below the thecae but not appendaged. Ovary 5-locular, 2/3-inferior, apex elevated into a low truncate crateriform cone sparsely beset with deciduous glands. Berry red then turning purple-black when ripe, 5-5.5 x 4.5-5 mm when dry. Seeds ca. 0.75 mm long, the testa polished and ± smooth.

Habitat and Distribution: Uncommon in rainforests and disturbed sites. 200-500 m. MEXICO: Chiapas (Martinez 14796, CAS); GUATEMALA (Contreras 11457, CAS). (Endemic)

Taxonomy and Systematics: This species and C. inopinata form a closely related species pair. Of the differences provided in the key to species, the latter can consistently be recognized most readily by the immature fruiting hypanthia and indument that dry black (vs. green or brownish).

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]