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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: Syntype: Mexico, Schiede s.n. (K!).

Description: Shrub or small tree 1-8 m tall, the rounded-quadrate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, inflorescence branches, and hypanthia densely to moderately covered with stellate or stellulate-lepidote hairs. Leaves of a pair equal in size; the blades 3-nerved, narrowly elliptic, 7.4-14.1 x 2.5-4.5 cm, the apex acute to subacuminate, the base cuneate and decurrent on the petiole, the margin entire, ciliate or eciliate varying to ciliate-serrulate, the adaxial surface mostly glabrous, but some populations are sparsely stellulate lepidote or sparingly setose with smooth hairs 0.5-1 mm long, the abaxial surface varying from essentially glabrous to sparsely stellate-puberulent on the elevated primary veins and the actual surfaces; petioles (free portions) 0.2-0.5 cm long. Inflorescence a narrowly oblong to pyramidal panicle 3-12 cm long with flowers congested in cymules at the ends of branchlets, the flowers 5- merous and sessile, the persistent triangular bracteoles 1 mm long and 0.75-1 mm wide at the base. Hypanthium 10-ribbed (especially evident in fruit). Calyx tube 0.25 mm long, the semicircular calyx lobes 0.5 x 1 mm; the exterior calyx teeth ± triangular callosities 0.25 mm long that are inconspicuous and shorter than the calyx lobes. Petals white, papillose abaxially and along distal portions of the adaxial surface, 2-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm. Anthers somewhat dimorphic, white, linear-oblong; the thecae alternately 3 mm and 2-2.5 mm long with a ventrally inclined terminal pore; the connective prolonged ventro-basally into an auriculiform appendage with two lateral lobes 0.25-0.5 mm long (in the larger anthers) and 0.1-0.2 mm long (in the smaller anthers). Style glabrous, 4.5-8 mm long; stigma clavate-truncate; ovary 3-locular, ½ inferior in fruit, apex elevated into a depressed bowl-like dome that is sparingly glandular-ciliolate to nearly glabrous. Berry 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry, blue-black at maturity. Seeds ± triangular to ovoid-triangular, the testa smooth to vaguely granulate, 1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in rain forest, gallery forest, pine-oak forest, and disturbed sites. 400-2100 m. Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Veracruz). MEXICO: Tabasco (Cowan 3326, CAS); Chiapas (Breedlove 37751, DS); BELIZE (Gentle 1354, NY); HONDURAS (Torres 144, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Winkler 1965: 358).

Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia schlechtendalii and M. prasina are very closely related and future studies may show that they are conspecific. The major differences between the two species are consistent but modal in nature. The leaf blades of M. prasina are 5-plinerved (vs. 3-plinerved) and modally larger (6-31 x 3-10.5 cm). In all other characters the two species are very similar or exhibit too much overlap for meaningful distinction.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]