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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: Colombia, Lehmann XXXIV (BR!).

Description: Shrub or small tree 1.5-6 m tall, the rounded-quadrate to terete uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, inflorescence axis, hypanthia and calyx lobes copiously covered with stalked-stellate hairs. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length; blades 7-9-plinerved with each pair of primaries diverging from the midvein at successive points above the blade base, the uppermost pair diverging 1.3-4.5 cm above the blade base, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 6.8-18 x 2.7-10.5 cm, apex acuminate, base acute to obtuse sometimes varying to rounded, the margin inconspicuously ciliate-serrulate, the adaxial surface densely covered with spreading bullate-based hispid hairs and an inconspicuous moderate ground layer of flexuous stalked-stellate hairs, the abaxial surface conspicuously foveolate and copiously covered with stalked-stellate hairs; petioles 1.5-5.5 cm long. Inflorescence a panicle 5.5-15 cm long with flowers in densely glomerulate heads at the ends of branchlets; flowers 5–merous and sessile; the bracteoles elliptic to ovate, ± cucullate and deciduous, 3-4 x 1-2 mm, glabrous adaxially and stalked-stellate puberulent abaxially. Calyx tube 0.1 mm long, the calyx lobes 1.5 x 1-1.5 mm, ovate-oblong. Anthers isomorphic, white, 1 mm long, obovoid, the apex ± emarginate with a slit-like ventrally inclined apical pore; connective prolonged ca. 0.5 mm abaxially the thecae, bilobulate ventro-basally and prolonged dorso-basally into a blunt deflexed appendage 0.2 mm long. Style glabrous, 3-3.5 mm long; stigma capitate; ovary 3-locular, ½ inferior, apex glabrous and elevated into a low collar but broadening into a bowl-like depression that ultimately flattens out on mature fruits. Berry reportedly reddish or orange (when immature), 3-3.5 x 3.5 mm when dry. Seeds narrowly ovoid, the testa smooth to vaguely granulate, 0.5-0.75 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in disturbed sites in cloud forest and rainforest. 1000-1900 m. Colombia and Ecuador. COSTA RICA (Almeda & Anderson 5225, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 7536, CAS).

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]