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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: Venezuela, Funck & Schlim 93 (P!)

Description: Tree 4-14 m tall, the somewhat flattened-quadrate or quadrisulcate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, abaxial leaf surfaces, inflorescence rachis, bracteoles, and hypanthia typically densely covered with a varying mixture of pinoid-stellate and stellulate or stellulate-lepidote hairs. Leaves of a pair ± equal to somewhat unequal in size, blades 5(-7)-nerved, ovate to oblong-ovate, the margin ± entire to inconspicuously sinuous-denticulate, the adaxial surface of young blades often stellate-pubescent but mostly glabrous at maturity; petioles 2.8-7.7 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 7.5-18 cm long with sessile flowers aggregated in verticillate glomerules; flowers 6-7-merous and pleiostemonous; the subulate bracteoles 1-2.5 x 0.5 mm. Calyx tube 0.25-0.5 mm long, the calyx lobes depressed rounded-triangular in bud but becoming undulate to subtruncate at anthesis and on fruiting hypanthia, 0.5 x 0.5 mm; the exterior calyx teeth bluntly triangular, 0.5 mm long, ± equaling the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, obovate, 2-2.5 x 1.5-2 mm. Anthers isomorphic, 16-19 per flower, white, cuneate and 2-celled, the apical pore somewhat ventrally inclined; connective slightly thickened and prolonged 0.25 mm abaxially the thecae but unappendaged. Style glabrous, 4-5 mm long; stigma clavate-truncate; ovary 5-locular, 5/6 inferior, apex glabrous, berry ca. 4-6 x 4-5 mm when dry, purple-black at maturity. Seeds ovoid to angulate-ovoid, the testa smooth, 1-1.5 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Infrequent in disturbed sites, light gaps, and forest margins in cloud forest. 1500-2500 m. Colombia and Venezuela. COSTA RICA (Almeda & Nakai 3815, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: This species is distinguished by the combination of flattened quadrate or quadrisulcate uppermost internodes, sessile flowers aggregated in glomerulate verticels, 6-7-merous pleiostemoneous flowers, and 5-locular ovary.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]