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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: Ecuador, Sparre 18349 (S).

Description: Shrub or tree 3-16 m tall, the quadrisulcate to rounded-quadrate internodes, petioles, abaxial foliar surfaces, inflorescence branches, bracteoles and hypanthia (at anthesis) densely covered with an appressed stellulate-lepidote indument. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size, 16-25(-31) x 4.3-11.7(-17) cm, ovate-elliptic to elliptic, 5-nerved, apex acuminate, base obtuse to broadly acute, the margin entire to bluntly denticulate, the adaxial foliar surface glabrous; petioles 1.7-5.5(-8) cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 10-22 cm long; flowers 5-merous, subsessile; the bracteoles narrowly oblong, 1 mm long, early deciduous. Hypanthia sparsely to moderately stellulate-lepidote in fruit. Calyx tube 0.2 mm long, the calyx lobes 0.75-1 x 1 mm, bluntly triangular-ovate, the exterior calyx teeth bluntly triangular, ca. 0.5 mm long, slightly shorter than the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, obovate, 1.5-2 x 0.8-1 mm. Anthers alternately somewhat unequal in length, white (?), 1.1-1.5 mm long, narrowly oblong with a broad ventrally inclined pore; connective prolonged 0.4-0.5 mm abaxially the thecae and dilated ventro-basally (in the larger anthers) into a bilobed appendage. Style glabrous, 3.5-4 mm long; stigma capitellate; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex elevated into a low glabrous collar at anthesis then becoming rounded on mature fruits. Berry purple and ribbed at maturity, 5 x 5 when dry. Seeds ovoid-triangular, smooth and angulate on the convex face, 1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Primary rain forest. 70-1150 m. Colombia and Ecuador. COSTA RICA (Bello 957, CAS); PANAMA (de Nevers et al. 5463, CAS).

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]