Taxon Details: Miconia alloeotricha (Urb.) Judd, Penneys & Skean
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Narratives:
Family:
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:
Miconia alloeotricha (Urb.) Judd, Penneys & Skean
Miconia alloeotricha (Urb.) Judd, Penneys & Skean
Accepted Name:
This name is currently accepted.
This name is currently accepted.
Description:
Description Author and Date: W. Judd, January 2012, based on Judd W. et al, 2004, Brittonia 56(2): 160.
Type: TYPE: HAITI. Dépt. Sud: Massif de la Hotte, western Group, Morne Formon, top of mountain, 2225 m, 1 Jan 1927 (young inflorescences) E. L. Ekman H7473 (HOLOTYPE, S, not seen; ISOTYPE, NY, digital image, ID no. 99631 observed).
Description: Shrub or small tree to 6 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, thick-stalked, irregularly dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, smaller, globular-branched hairs, and minute globular hairs. Young twigs rectangular to rounded-rectangular in cross section, 1.5-3 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of moderate to sparse, multicellular, ferrugineous, thick-stalked irregularly dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, and smaller, globular-branched hairs; internodes 1-3.4 cm long. Leaves opposite, with petiole 3-23 mm long, the indumentum sparse to moderate, similar to that of the twigs; blade ovate to elliptic, 1.7-5.9 x 1-3.4 cm, flat, coriaceous, the apex obtuse, acute, to slightly acuminate, the base obtuse to rounded or very slightly cordate, the margin distinctly serrulate to base or nearly so (ca. 90-10% of margin entire basally), plane to revolute, the largest teeth 0.15-0.4 mm long; venation acrodromous, basal, with prominent midvein, two pairs of conspicuous secondary veins placed 1.5-7 mm and 0.5-2.5 mm from margin respectively, and often one pair of inconspicuous intramarginal secondary veins and with numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins usually connected by quaternary veins; adaxial surface green, essentially glabrous, but some ferrugineous, erect-stalked, often few-branched, dendritic hairs along midvein and major secondary veins, with several rows of stout, conical projections, to 0.15-0.35 mm long, in regions bounded by tertiary veins; the midvein, major secondary veins, and tertiary veins strongly to slightly impressed, quaternary veins moderately to very slightly impressed or flat, the surface ± bullate, with the conical projections at the apices of the bullations, minutely papillose after drying due to presence of numerous druse crystals; abaxial surface light green, moderately to sparsely covered with ferrugineous, dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, to 0.4-0.7 mm long, along with smaller globose-stellate hairs and minute-globular hairs on midvein, secondary and tertiary veins, and only minute-globular hairs on quaternary and higher order veins, the midvein, major secondary, and tertiary veins prominently raised, quaternary veins slightly raised to flat, intramarginal secondary veins slightly raised to flat, the higher order veins flat. Inflorescences terminal, many flowered, pyramidal cymes of 2 to 6 major branch-pairs, 2.5-11 cm long, 1.5-5.5 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 4.5-21 mm long, distal internodes of inflorescence branches increasingly shorter, ultimate branches 0-0.5 mm long, and flowers appearing in 3- to 5-flowered glomerules, along and terminating inflorescence branches, with sparse to moderate, ferrugineous hairs similar to those of twigs; peduncle 1-3.8 cm long, with similar indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with a ± deciduous, oblong to elliptic bract, 2-3.5 x 0.7-1.5 mm, the bract apex ± acute; flowers in dichasia, each subtended by 2 deciduous narrowly elliptic to narrowly triangular bracteoles 0.7-1.5 x 0.2-0.5 mm, the indumentum sometimes of a few branched hairs along margin, otherwise glabrous, the apices acute to acuminate; the lowermost inflorescence branches sometimes in the axils of leaves. Flowers sessile or nearly so, the pedicel 0-0.3 mm long. Hypanthium cylindrical-orbicular, free portion ca. 0.7-0.9 mm long, the outer surface with moderate ferrugineous, minute-globular to globular-stellate hairs, the inner surface glabrous and smooth to shallowly ridged. Calyx teeth 4, 0.3-0.5 x 0.9-1.3 mm, triangular, with acute to obtuse apex, indumentum of a few minute-globular or globular-branched hairs, but frequently glabrous; calyx lobes 4, 0.35-0.6 x 0.75-1.1 mm, ovate-triangular, pale green to red tinged, glabrous, the apex rounded, the margin entire; calyx tube 0.1-0.3 mm long (but one young fruit seen with 5 calyx teeth and calyx lobes, 2 of these closely placed, as if resulting from a division of a single primordium, and thus considered a rare teratological condition). Petals 4, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, 1.4-1.85 x 0.9-1.25 mm, glabrous, white, imbricate and apically interlocking in bud, with apex rounded, with an asymmetrically located notch; margin ± entire. Stamens 8, geniculate, isomorphic, white, glabrous, and arranged actinomorphically; proximal portion 1.1-11.4 mm long; distal segment (anther and distal portion of filament) 1.55-1.75 mm long, the anther 1-1.15 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 0.75-0.95 mm long, opening by a single, fairly large, terminal pore, with the septum between the anther sacs clearly visible, the base slightly lobed, extended 0.15-0.3 mm beyond the anther sacs.
Description (cont.): Ovary 2-loculate, ca. ½-inferior, ± globose, 0.85-0.95 x 0.85-1 mm, glabrous, non-ridged to shallowly ridged (and these often ending in minute, rounded, apical projections), with collar to 0.5-0.7 mm high encircling the base of style; style 2.5-2.8 mm long, terete, glabrous; stigma distinctly expanded. Berries ± globose, ca. 2.6 x 2.5 mm, purple-blue, with sparse minute-glandular hairs; observed fruits apparently still somewhat immature. Seeds rounded pyramidal, 0.3-0.6 mm long, the testa smooth, of isodiametric cells; hilum ovoid, comprising ca. ¾ of one face of seed.
Habitat and Distribution: Miconia alloeotricha is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, occurring in cloud forests and moist forests of Pinus occidentalis Sw., at ca. 2150-2170 m. The species is rare and is apparently limited to the highest elevations of the ridge of Morne Formon. Associated melastomes include Henriettea barkeri (Urb. & Ekman) Alain, Mecranium alpestre Urb., M. tricostatum Urb. & Ekman, M. tuberculatum Urb., Meriania parvifolia Judd & Skean, Meriania squamulosa Urb. & Ekman, Miconia apiculata Urb. & Ekman, M. barkeri Urb. & Ekman, M. hypiodes Urb. & Ekman, M. subcompressa Urb. & Ekman, and M. tetrastoma Naud. For a detailed characterization of the high elevation plant communities of the Massif de la Hotte, and especially Morne Formon, see Judd (1987) and Judd et al. (1990, 1998).
Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia alloeotricha is easily differentiated from other Hispaniolan species of Miconia and matches no other Antillean or continental species. The short anthers with an expanded apical pore with an evident septum indicate a placement in Miconia sect. Cremanium. For more information on this species see Judd et al. (2004).
Description Author and Date: W. Judd, January 2012, based on Judd W. et al, 2004, Brittonia 56(2): 160.
Type: TYPE: HAITI. Dépt. Sud: Massif de la Hotte, western Group, Morne Formon, top of mountain, 2225 m, 1 Jan 1927 (young inflorescences) E. L. Ekman H7473 (HOLOTYPE, S, not seen; ISOTYPE, NY, digital image, ID no. 99631 observed).
Description: Shrub or small tree to 6 m tall. Indumentum of multicellular, ferrugineous, thick-stalked, irregularly dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, smaller, globular-branched hairs, and minute globular hairs. Young twigs rectangular to rounded-rectangular in cross section, 1.5-3 mm wide, becoming terete with age, the indumentum of moderate to sparse, multicellular, ferrugineous, thick-stalked irregularly dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, and smaller, globular-branched hairs; internodes 1-3.4 cm long. Leaves opposite, with petiole 3-23 mm long, the indumentum sparse to moderate, similar to that of the twigs; blade ovate to elliptic, 1.7-5.9 x 1-3.4 cm, flat, coriaceous, the apex obtuse, acute, to slightly acuminate, the base obtuse to rounded or very slightly cordate, the margin distinctly serrulate to base or nearly so (ca. 90-10% of margin entire basally), plane to revolute, the largest teeth 0.15-0.4 mm long; venation acrodromous, basal, with prominent midvein, two pairs of conspicuous secondary veins placed 1.5-7 mm and 0.5-2.5 mm from margin respectively, and often one pair of inconspicuous intramarginal secondary veins and with numerous percurrent tertiary veins oriented subperpendicular to midvein, the tertiary veins usually connected by quaternary veins; adaxial surface green, essentially glabrous, but some ferrugineous, erect-stalked, often few-branched, dendritic hairs along midvein and major secondary veins, with several rows of stout, conical projections, to 0.15-0.35 mm long, in regions bounded by tertiary veins; the midvein, major secondary veins, and tertiary veins strongly to slightly impressed, quaternary veins moderately to very slightly impressed or flat, the surface ± bullate, with the conical projections at the apices of the bullations, minutely papillose after drying due to presence of numerous druse crystals; abaxial surface light green, moderately to sparsely covered with ferrugineous, dendritic to elongate-branched hairs, to 0.4-0.7 mm long, along with smaller globose-stellate hairs and minute-globular hairs on midvein, secondary and tertiary veins, and only minute-globular hairs on quaternary and higher order veins, the midvein, major secondary, and tertiary veins prominently raised, quaternary veins slightly raised to flat, intramarginal secondary veins slightly raised to flat, the higher order veins flat. Inflorescences terminal, many flowered, pyramidal cymes of 2 to 6 major branch-pairs, 2.5-11 cm long, 1.5-5.5 cm across; proximal segment of lowermost inflorescence branches 4.5-21 mm long, distal internodes of inflorescence branches increasingly shorter, ultimate branches 0-0.5 mm long, and flowers appearing in 3- to 5-flowered glomerules, along and terminating inflorescence branches, with sparse to moderate, ferrugineous hairs similar to those of twigs; peduncle 1-3.8 cm long, with similar indumentum; each inflorescence branch associated with a ± deciduous, oblong to elliptic bract, 2-3.5 x 0.7-1.5 mm, the bract apex ± acute; flowers in dichasia, each subtended by 2 deciduous narrowly elliptic to narrowly triangular bracteoles 0.7-1.5 x 0.2-0.5 mm, the indumentum sometimes of a few branched hairs along margin, otherwise glabrous, the apices acute to acuminate; the lowermost inflorescence branches sometimes in the axils of leaves. Flowers sessile or nearly so, the pedicel 0-0.3 mm long. Hypanthium cylindrical-orbicular, free portion ca. 0.7-0.9 mm long, the outer surface with moderate ferrugineous, minute-globular to globular-stellate hairs, the inner surface glabrous and smooth to shallowly ridged. Calyx teeth 4, 0.3-0.5 x 0.9-1.3 mm, triangular, with acute to obtuse apex, indumentum of a few minute-globular or globular-branched hairs, but frequently glabrous; calyx lobes 4, 0.35-0.6 x 0.75-1.1 mm, ovate-triangular, pale green to red tinged, glabrous, the apex rounded, the margin entire; calyx tube 0.1-0.3 mm long (but one young fruit seen with 5 calyx teeth and calyx lobes, 2 of these closely placed, as if resulting from a division of a single primordium, and thus considered a rare teratological condition). Petals 4, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, 1.4-1.85 x 0.9-1.25 mm, glabrous, white, imbricate and apically interlocking in bud, with apex rounded, with an asymmetrically located notch; margin ± entire. Stamens 8, geniculate, isomorphic, white, glabrous, and arranged actinomorphically; proximal portion 1.1-11.4 mm long; distal segment (anther and distal portion of filament) 1.55-1.75 mm long, the anther 1-1.15 mm long, with fertile portion of anther sacs 0.75-0.95 mm long, opening by a single, fairly large, terminal pore, with the septum between the anther sacs clearly visible, the base slightly lobed, extended 0.15-0.3 mm beyond the anther sacs.
Description (cont.): Ovary 2-loculate, ca. ½-inferior, ± globose, 0.85-0.95 x 0.85-1 mm, glabrous, non-ridged to shallowly ridged (and these often ending in minute, rounded, apical projections), with collar to 0.5-0.7 mm high encircling the base of style; style 2.5-2.8 mm long, terete, glabrous; stigma distinctly expanded. Berries ± globose, ca. 2.6 x 2.5 mm, purple-blue, with sparse minute-glandular hairs; observed fruits apparently still somewhat immature. Seeds rounded pyramidal, 0.3-0.6 mm long, the testa smooth, of isodiametric cells; hilum ovoid, comprising ca. ¾ of one face of seed.
Habitat and Distribution: Miconia alloeotricha is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, occurring in cloud forests and moist forests of Pinus occidentalis Sw., at ca. 2150-2170 m. The species is rare and is apparently limited to the highest elevations of the ridge of Morne Formon. Associated melastomes include Henriettea barkeri (Urb. & Ekman) Alain, Mecranium alpestre Urb., M. tricostatum Urb. & Ekman, M. tuberculatum Urb., Meriania parvifolia Judd & Skean, Meriania squamulosa Urb. & Ekman, Miconia apiculata Urb. & Ekman, M. barkeri Urb. & Ekman, M. hypiodes Urb. & Ekman, M. subcompressa Urb. & Ekman, and M. tetrastoma Naud. For a detailed characterization of the high elevation plant communities of the Massif de la Hotte, and especially Morne Formon, see Judd (1987) and Judd et al. (1990, 1998).
Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia alloeotricha is easily differentiated from other Hispaniolan species of Miconia and matches no other Antillean or continental species. The short anthers with an expanded apical pore with an evident septum indicate a placement in Miconia sect. Cremanium. For more information on this species see Judd et al. (2004).