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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 16: 5. 1891

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Isotype -- H. von Türckheim

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, Tuerckheim 581 (BR!)

Description: Shrub 1-4 m. tall, the rounded-quadrate to quadrisulcate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, and inflorescence branches densely to moderately covered with a mixture of sessile-stellate hairs, stalked-stellate hairs (with short to long stalks), spreading gland-tipped hairs that project beyond other hair types, and an inconspicuous ground scattering of glands. Leaves of a pair subequal to commonly unequal in size; blades 5-7-plinerved with the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from the midvein 0.4-1 cm above the blade base, ovate to oblong-ovate, 6.3-25.5 x 3.5-13.1 cm, the apex long-acuminate, the base rounded to cordulate, the margin denticulate, the adaxial blade surface copiously covered with smooth somewhat spreading simple hairs 0.25-1 mm long the abaxial surface copiously covered throughout with stalked-stellate hairs and a sparse understory of minute glands; petioles 1-7.2 cm long. Inflorescence 7-28 cm long, paniculiform with ultimate branches terminating in simple triads, flowers 4 (5)–merous on pedicels 0.5-1 mm long; the early deciduous bracteoles subulate, 0.5-0.75 x 0.1-0.5 mm. Hypanthium densely covered with (but not completely obscured by) a mix of spreading glandular hairs, stalked-stellate hairs and an inconspicuous scattering of minute glands. Calyx tube 0.5 mm long; calyx lobes broadly triangular, 1 x 1.5 mm; the exterior calyx teeth subulate, 0.75-1 mm long and protruding for a short distance beyond the calyx lobes. Petals white or white flushed with pink, glabrous, obovate, 4-4.5 x 2-3.5 mm. Anthers isomorphic, 3-3.5 mm long, yellow, oblong-subulate with a ventrally inclined apical pore; connective thickened dorsally and prolonged ventro-basally into a short (0.1 mm) lobule at the base of each anther sac. Style glabrous, 6-7 mm long; stigma punctiform; ovary 4(5)-locular, ½ inferior, the apex elevated into a low glabrous crateriform dome surrounding the stylar scar. Berry purple-black when mature, 4-6 x 4-6 mm when dry. Seeds ovoid to ellipsoid, the testa smooth and glossy, 0.75-1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Cloud forest. 2300-2600 m. Mexico (Oaxaca). MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 47843, CAS); GUATEMALA (Lundell & Contreras 19668, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: The Mesoamerican populations of M. tuerckheimii have uniformly 4-merous flowers with eight stamens and a 4-locular ovary whereas all Oaxacan collections have 5-merous flowers with 10 stamens and a 5-locular ovary. They are otherwise identical in all other diagnostic characters.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]