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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, Killip & Smith 28852 (NY!).

Description: Subshrub or suffrutescent herb 0.3-0.7 m tall, the rounded-quadrate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles and elevated primary veins on abaxial foliar surfaces moderately to sparsely covered with inconspicuous sessile glands. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size, the blade 8-25 x 4.2-15 cm, ovate-elliptic to ovate, 5-nerved, apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, the margin entire to obscurely ciliate-denticulate, glabrous on both surfaces; petioles 3.5-10.3(-18) cm long. Inflorescence a few-flowered panicle 4-8 cm long, the flowers distinctly secund on the spreading sparsely to moderately glandular-setose ultimate branches; flowers (4-) 5-merous on pedicels 0.25-0.5 mm long; the persistent bracteoles narrowly subulate, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Hypanthium sparsely to moderately covered with spreading smooth gland-tipped hairs 1.5-2 mm long and a ground layer of inconspicuous sessile glands; calyx tube 0.3 mm long, the calyx lobes 0.5-1 x 1.5 mm, rounded-triangular, the exterior calyx teeth subulate and hair-tipped, 1 mm long and exceeding the calyx lobes. Petals white, minutely papillose abaxially, obovate, 1.5 x 1 mm. Anthers alternately slightly dimorphic in length, 1.8-2 mm long, oblong, the apical pore somewhat dorsally inclined; connective not prolonged abaxially the thecae but dilated dorso-basally into a blunt deflexed ± bilobulate appendage 0.1 mm long in the larger set of anthers. Style glabrous, 4 mm long; stigma slightly expanded; ovary 5-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex glabrous or with a few minute glands, elevated into a low collar 0.5-0.7 mm long. Berry purple at maturity, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds ± triangular-ovoid with the broader basal end expanded into an opaque foot-like spur, the testa smooth, 0.5 mm long (excluding the spur).

Habitat and Distribution: Apparently rare and local in primary and secondary rain forest. 220-850 m. Ecuador, Peru, and N. Brazil. PANAMA (Hammel et al. 16388, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: The foot-like appendage or spur on the seeds of this species may be an outgrowth of the raphe that could serve as a flotation structure aiding dispersal in wet forest environments.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]