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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: Mexico, not located (see Wurdack, 1971c).

Description: Shrub or small tree 0.5-5 m tall, the ± terete uppermost cauline internodes and inflorescence rachis sparingly and deciduously stellate pubescent. Leaves of a pair equal or subequal in size; blades 3-5-nerved or if 3(-5)-plinerved then the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from the midvein in opposite or subopposite fashion 0.2-2 cm above the blade base, elliptic to oblong-ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-18 x 0.7-8.5 cm, apex attenuate to acuminate, base acute to obtuse or rounded, the margin entire, the abaxial surface minutely and deciduously glandular-puncticulate to glabrous on the actual surface and copiously beset with tufts of stalked-stellate hairs where the innermost primary veins diverge from the median vein, the adaxial surface glabrous; petioles 0.5-4.3 cm long. Inflorescence a panicle 2.5-20 cm long, the 5-merous flowers on pedicels 0.5-1 (-2) mm long, the early deciduous bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 1.5-3.5 mm long. Hypanthia glabrous or with a few scattered stellate hairs. Calyx tube ca. 0.5-0.7 mm long, the calyx fused in bud and terminated by a short apiculum but rupturing into five rounded or bluntly deltoid lobes 0.5-1 x 2 mm, the exterior teeth subulate, 0.5-1 mm long, equaling or shortly exceeding the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, oblong-obovate, 6-7 x 3-4 mm. Anthers somewhat dimorphic in size, yellow, linear-subulate, alternately 4-5 and 3-4 mm long with a ventrally inclined pore; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged. Style glabrous, 7-9 mm long; stigma punctiform; ovary 3-locular, ½ inferior, apex elevated in a lobulate stylar collar sparsely covered with minute glandular hairs; berry deep purple at maturity, 5-6 x 5-7 mm. Seeds ovoid-pyramidate, the testa ± angulate and smooth, 1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common to uncommon in pine-oak forest, disturbed sites in cloud forest and rain forest. 1200-2750 m. Southern and western Mexico (Jalisco, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz south). MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 47545, CAS); GUATEMALA (Lundell & Contreras 20451, CAS); HONDURAS (Torres 195, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Villacorta 2149, CAS); NICARAGUA (Atwood & Neill AN161, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 2836, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: This species exhibits great variation in leaf size and the length of the inflorescence. Southern populations tend to have short leaf blades and inflorescences (2.5-10 cm and 2.5-8 cm respectively) whereas many population from southern Mexico have larger leaves and inflorescences (10-18 cm and 10-20 cm respectively). Because many intermediates between these extremes can be found in the northern and central portions of its range I see no defensible way of recognizing anything but one variable species. Although the type of M. mexicana has not been located, there is no doubt that this epithet applies to the taxon described here.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]