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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 4: 310. 1823

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, Bonpland 1720 (P!).

Description: Shrubs 1-3 m tall, the branchlets, leaf veins below, inflorescences, and hypanthia moderately to densely stellate-puberulent, overtopped by a moderate to dense cover of glandular hairs 0.5-1 mm long and smooth eglandular hairs 1-5 mm long. Leaves 5-7-nerved, ovate to elliptic-ovate, (7-)10-19 cm long, 3.5-8.5 cm wide, above with a copious mixture of stellate (some of which are stalked) and smooth hairs (all or some of which are basally swollen), apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded or subcordate, the margin ciliate-serrulate. Inflorescence 5-14 cm long, pseudolateral, mostly spiciform or pyramidal in outline with lateral branching from at least the lower nodes; flowers 5-merous, sessile in congested nodal clusters, the ovate to elliptic bracteoles 1.5-4 X 0.5-2.5 mm. Calyx lobes ovate to semicircular, 1.5-2 X 1-2 mm, equaled or exceeded by the subulate exterior teeth 1.5-3 mm long. Petals white, glabrous, oblong-obovate, 3-6 X 2-4 mm. Filaments 2.5-3 mm long; anther sacs white, 2-2.5 mm long with a ventrally inclined pore; connective simple. Ovary 5-locular, 3/4 inferior, the apex sparsely stellulate and glandular puberulent or distended into a short glandular puberulent collar; berry 6-9 mm diam, blue-purple when ripe. Seeds minutely tuberculate, 0.5 mm long; 2n=34.

Habitat and Distribution: Common and widespread, disturbed sites, river banks, rain forest margins. 0-1000 m; southern Mexico (Guerrero and Veracruz southward), Central America, the West Indies and all the Guianas to the Amazon basin in Peru, Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. MEXICO: Tabasco (Cowan 501, CAS), Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 47676, CAS); BELIZE (Contreras 8953, CAS); HONDURAS (Davidse et al. 35560, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Winkler s.n., F); NICARAGUA (Stevens 18864, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3332, CAS); PANAMA (de Nevers 3493, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: This is a variable species complex with at least three named varieties that are distinguished largely on the basis of hair length and density. Most recently, two varieties have been recognized in some floristic treatments for countries in tropical America. Plants with branchlets and the inflorescence axis sparsely setose with the simple eglandular hairs 1-1.5 mm long and the lower surface hairs mostly 0.5-1.5 mm long have been recognized as var. capitellata. Plants with branchlets and the inflorescence axis densely setose with the eglandular hairs 3-5 mm long and the lower leaf surface hairs mostly 2-4 mm long have been treated as var. dependens. Because these infraspecific taxa are bridged by intermediates, I am reluctant to recognize them here pending an evaluation of the problem throughout its extensive range.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Clidemia capitellata (Bonpl.) D.Don: [Article] Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.