Taxon Details: Miconia monciona Urb. & Ekman
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Narratives:
Family:
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:
Miconia monciona Urb. & Ekman
Miconia monciona Urb. & Ekman
Primary Citation:
Ark. Bot. 23A(11): 17. 1931
Ark. Bot. 23A(11): 17. 1931
Accepted Name:
This name is currently accepted.
This name is currently accepted.
Description:
Description Author and Date: Description from Judd, Walter S. & Penneys, Darin S. 2004. Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). VIII. A revision of the species of the Miconia desportesii complex on Hispaniola. Rhodora. 106: 124-147.
Type: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Prov. Monte Cristi [now the border between Prov. Santiago and Prov. San Juan]: Cordillera Central, Monción, high ridge between Rio Cenobi and Rio San Juán, ca. 1900 m, 11 Jun 1929 (fl), E. L. Ekman H12807 (Holotype: S!; Isotypes: GH!, NY!, S!, US!).
Description: Shrub to ca. 1 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, irregularly stellate to globular-stellate hairs, and minute globular hairs. Young twigs ± rectangular in cross section, with two opposing faces slightly concave (i.e., those positioned above point of petiole attachment of adjacent proximal node) and the alternate faces slightly convex, 1-2.5 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of moderate to dense multicellular, irregularly stellate to globular-stellate hairs, and minute globular hairs, with some elongate-branched hairs at the node, becoming only sparsely pubescent with age; internodes 3-24 mm long. Leaves opposite, with petiole 1.3-5 mm long, the indumentum sparse to moderate, similar to that of the twigs; blade ovate to elliptic, 10-25 x 4.6-9.5 mm, flat, coriaceous, the apex acute, the base obtuse to rounded, the margin distinctly serrate, at least distally (ca. proximal 25-50% of margin entire), plane to slightly revolute, the largest teeth to 0.15-0.8 mm, most narrowed to a slender apical portion having the form of a seta; venation acrodromous, basal, with prominent midvein and 2 pairs of secondary veins, with 1 pair of conspicuous secondary veins placed 0.6-1.5 mm in from margin, with 1 pair of inconspicuous intramarginal secondary veins, and numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins either connected by quaternary veins or separated by variously developed composite-intertertiary veins; adaxial surface green, sometimes yellowish after drying, the indumentum essentially glabrous, but with some ferrugineous, ± stellate hairs along midvein, the midvein strongly to moderately impressed, the major secondary veins slightly to very slightly impressed, minor secondary veins, tertiary and higher order veins not impressed, surface roughened and minutely papillose after drying because of the presence of numerous druse crystals; abaxial surface light green, sometimes yellowish after drying, moderately covered with reddish brown minute globular hairs, with a few globular-stellate hairs on midvein and major secondary veins, but these quickly deciduous, the midvein and major secondary veins prominently to moderately raised, all other veins ± flat. Inflorescences terminal, several flowered, racemose cymes of 2 to 4 major branch-pairs, 2-4.5 cm long, 1-1.6 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 4-8 mm long, distal internodes increasingly shorter, ultimate branches 0.3-1.1 mm long, and flowers appearing in 3- to 5-flowered glomerules, terminating inflorescence branches, with sparse to moderate hairs similar to those of the twigs; peduncle 1.25-2.1 cm long, with similar indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with ± deciduous, narrowly obovate to oblong bract, 4.5-10 x 1-2.75 mm, the apex acute; flowers in dichasia, each subtended by 2 caducous narrowly obovate to linear bracteoles 2-3 x 0.5-0.9 mm, the indumentum of a few minute-globular hairs, the apices acute; the lowermost inflorescence branches sometimes in the axils of leaves. Flowers sessile or nearly so, the pedicel 0-0.4 mm long. Hypanthium cylindrical-orbicular, free portion ca. 1-1.3 mm long, the outer surface with moderate, ferrugineous, minute-globular hairs, the inner surface glabrous and not ridged. External calyx teeth 5, 0.4-0.85 x 0.9-1.3 mm, triangular, with acute to acuminate apex, indumentum of a few minute-globular hairs, but frequently glabrous; internal calyx lobes 5, 0.5-0.72 x 0.9-1.1 mm, ovate-triangular, pale green to reddish, glabrous, the apex ± obtuse, the margin entire to minutely fimbriate; calyx tube 0.15-0.22 mm long. Petals 5, broadly ovate to obovate, 2.9-3.5 x 1.65-2.2 mm, glabrous, white to pink tinged, imbricate and apically interlocking in bud, with apex rounded, with an asymmetrically located notch; margin entire. Stamens 10, geniculate, white, glabrous; proximal portion 1.8-2.2 mm long; distal segment (anther and distal portion of filament) 2.1-2.85 mm long, the anther 0.95-1.65 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 0.8-1.25 mm long, opening by a single, large, terminal pore, often extending into a short slit, with the septum between the anther sacs clearly visible, the base slightly lobed, and with a dorsal, apically oriented projection ca. 0.25 mm long. Ovary 3-loculate (N=5), ca. 3/5-inferior, ± globose, 1.4-2.1 x 1.25-1.9 mm, glabrous, ± ridged, and these ending in minute, rounded, apical projections, with crown to 0.7-0.9 mm encircling the base of style; style straight, 4.5-5.3 mm long, glabrous; stigma somewhat expanded. Berries globose, only immature fruits seen, and fruits possibly reaching ca. 3.5 x 2.5 mm when mature. Seeds rounded-pyramidal, ca. 0.75-1.1 mm long; testa ornamented with isodiametric, ± bulging cells.
Habitat and Distribution: Endemic to the Dominican Republic, in the Cordillera Central, on ridge between Rio Cenobi and Rio San Juan (Figure 2), in pinelands (Pinus occidentalis), ca. 1900 m.
Taxonomy and Systematics: In their description Urban and Ekman (Urban, 1931) compare this species with Miconia desportesii. The species is poorly known, and has only been collected once, where it is evidently sympatric with M. sphagnicola. It would be especially interesting to see mature fruits; if they are blue then red fruits are apomorphic for M. sphagnicola, while the discovery of red fruits would add to the similarities, likely synapomorphic, with M. sphagnicola.
Description Author and Date: Description from Judd, Walter S. & Penneys, Darin S. 2004. Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). VIII. A revision of the species of the Miconia desportesii complex on Hispaniola. Rhodora. 106: 124-147.
Type: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Prov. Monte Cristi [now the border between Prov. Santiago and Prov. San Juan]: Cordillera Central, Monción, high ridge between Rio Cenobi and Rio San Juán, ca. 1900 m, 11 Jun 1929 (fl), E. L. Ekman H12807 (Holotype: S!; Isotypes: GH!, NY!, S!, US!).
Description: Shrub to ca. 1 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, irregularly stellate to globular-stellate hairs, and minute globular hairs. Young twigs ± rectangular in cross section, with two opposing faces slightly concave (i.e., those positioned above point of petiole attachment of adjacent proximal node) and the alternate faces slightly convex, 1-2.5 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of moderate to dense multicellular, irregularly stellate to globular-stellate hairs, and minute globular hairs, with some elongate-branched hairs at the node, becoming only sparsely pubescent with age; internodes 3-24 mm long. Leaves opposite, with petiole 1.3-5 mm long, the indumentum sparse to moderate, similar to that of the twigs; blade ovate to elliptic, 10-25 x 4.6-9.5 mm, flat, coriaceous, the apex acute, the base obtuse to rounded, the margin distinctly serrate, at least distally (ca. proximal 25-50% of margin entire), plane to slightly revolute, the largest teeth to 0.15-0.8 mm, most narrowed to a slender apical portion having the form of a seta; venation acrodromous, basal, with prominent midvein and 2 pairs of secondary veins, with 1 pair of conspicuous secondary veins placed 0.6-1.5 mm in from margin, with 1 pair of inconspicuous intramarginal secondary veins, and numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins either connected by quaternary veins or separated by variously developed composite-intertertiary veins; adaxial surface green, sometimes yellowish after drying, the indumentum essentially glabrous, but with some ferrugineous, ± stellate hairs along midvein, the midvein strongly to moderately impressed, the major secondary veins slightly to very slightly impressed, minor secondary veins, tertiary and higher order veins not impressed, surface roughened and minutely papillose after drying because of the presence of numerous druse crystals; abaxial surface light green, sometimes yellowish after drying, moderately covered with reddish brown minute globular hairs, with a few globular-stellate hairs on midvein and major secondary veins, but these quickly deciduous, the midvein and major secondary veins prominently to moderately raised, all other veins ± flat. Inflorescences terminal, several flowered, racemose cymes of 2 to 4 major branch-pairs, 2-4.5 cm long, 1-1.6 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 4-8 mm long, distal internodes increasingly shorter, ultimate branches 0.3-1.1 mm long, and flowers appearing in 3- to 5-flowered glomerules, terminating inflorescence branches, with sparse to moderate hairs similar to those of the twigs; peduncle 1.25-2.1 cm long, with similar indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with ± deciduous, narrowly obovate to oblong bract, 4.5-10 x 1-2.75 mm, the apex acute; flowers in dichasia, each subtended by 2 caducous narrowly obovate to linear bracteoles 2-3 x 0.5-0.9 mm, the indumentum of a few minute-globular hairs, the apices acute; the lowermost inflorescence branches sometimes in the axils of leaves. Flowers sessile or nearly so, the pedicel 0-0.4 mm long. Hypanthium cylindrical-orbicular, free portion ca. 1-1.3 mm long, the outer surface with moderate, ferrugineous, minute-globular hairs, the inner surface glabrous and not ridged. External calyx teeth 5, 0.4-0.85 x 0.9-1.3 mm, triangular, with acute to acuminate apex, indumentum of a few minute-globular hairs, but frequently glabrous; internal calyx lobes 5, 0.5-0.72 x 0.9-1.1 mm, ovate-triangular, pale green to reddish, glabrous, the apex ± obtuse, the margin entire to minutely fimbriate; calyx tube 0.15-0.22 mm long. Petals 5, broadly ovate to obovate, 2.9-3.5 x 1.65-2.2 mm, glabrous, white to pink tinged, imbricate and apically interlocking in bud, with apex rounded, with an asymmetrically located notch; margin entire. Stamens 10, geniculate, white, glabrous; proximal portion 1.8-2.2 mm long; distal segment (anther and distal portion of filament) 2.1-2.85 mm long, the anther 0.95-1.65 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 0.8-1.25 mm long, opening by a single, large, terminal pore, often extending into a short slit, with the septum between the anther sacs clearly visible, the base slightly lobed, and with a dorsal, apically oriented projection ca. 0.25 mm long. Ovary 3-loculate (N=5), ca. 3/5-inferior, ± globose, 1.4-2.1 x 1.25-1.9 mm, glabrous, ± ridged, and these ending in minute, rounded, apical projections, with crown to 0.7-0.9 mm encircling the base of style; style straight, 4.5-5.3 mm long, glabrous; stigma somewhat expanded. Berries globose, only immature fruits seen, and fruits possibly reaching ca. 3.5 x 2.5 mm when mature. Seeds rounded-pyramidal, ca. 0.75-1.1 mm long; testa ornamented with isodiametric, ± bulging cells.
Habitat and Distribution: Endemic to the Dominican Republic, in the Cordillera Central, on ridge between Rio Cenobi and Rio San Juan (Figure 2), in pinelands (Pinus occidentalis), ca. 1900 m.
Taxonomy and Systematics: In their description Urban and Ekman (Urban, 1931) compare this species with Miconia desportesii. The species is poorly known, and has only been collected once, where it is evidently sympatric with M. sphagnicola. It would be especially interesting to see mature fruits; if they are blue then red fruits are apomorphic for M. sphagnicola, while the discovery of red fruits would add to the similarities, likely synapomorphic, with M. sphagnicola.