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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Brittonia 2: 319. 1937

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Holotype -- O. L. Haught

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: Colombia, Haught 1311 (NY!).

Description: Shrub 1-5 m tall, the branchlets, petioles, primary leaf veins abaxially, and inflorescences densely strigose with smooth appressed hairs mostly 1-2 mm long. Leaves 10-33 X 5-14 cm, ovate, (5-)7-nerved, base broadly acute to obtuse or rounded, apex gradually acuminate, the margin ciliate-serrulate, sparsely to moderately covered with loosely appressed smooth hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescences 7-19 cm long; flowers 5-merous, sessile and secund on the branchlets; the persistent bracteoles 1.5-2 mm long. Hypanthium covered with appressed smooth (sometimes gland-tipped) hairs 1-1.5 mm long and with an inconspicuous understory of minute glandlike hairs; calyx lobes hemispheric, 0.3-0.5 mm long but concealed and exceeded by the oblong projecting exterior teeth. Petals white to pale pink, glabrous, 2-2.5 X 0.5 mm. Filaments 2-3 mm long; anther sacs pink, 1-1.5 mm long, the pore somewhat ventrally inclined. Ovary 5-celled, 2/3 inferior, berry 4-5 mm in diameter, red-purple to blue-black when ripe. Seeds ca 0.3 mm long. 2n=30.

Habitat and Distribution: Disturbed sites, rain forest. 0-500 m. (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador.) NICARAGUA (Neill 2579, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3401, CAS); PANAMA (Knapp et al. 4740, CAS).

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]