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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: Syntype: Brazil, Claussen 567 (P!).

Description: Shrubs 1.5-4 m tall, the glabrous young branches obtusely tetragonous with a well-defined interpetiolar ridge at the nodes. Leaves 3-plinerved, short-petiolate but often appearing subsessile, elliptic-ovate to oblong-ovate, (7-)11-19 X (3-)6-12 cm, sparingly stellulate-furfuraceous adaxially and abaxially when very young but glabrous with age, apex acute to acuminate, base broadly rounded to subauriculate and decurrent on the petiole, the margin entire to obscurely undulate; petioles 0.3-0.8 cm long. Panicle 10-21 cm long, flowers 5-merous and sessile, the persistent bracteoles narrowly triangular, 0.25-1.5 mm long. Hypanthia deciduously stellulate-furfuraceous; calyx tube 0.5 mm long, the depressed-triangular lobes 0.5 mm long, the exterior teeth obscure tuberculate thickenings 0.25 mm long adnate to but not projecting beyond the lobes. Petals obovate minutely and obscurely papillose on both surfaces, 2-3 X 1.5-2 mm. Stamens dimorphic; anthers linear-oblong, alternately 3-3.5 and 2-2.5 mm long, white, the larger with a ventrally inclined pore and connective modified dorso-basally into a deflexed biauriculate collar, the smaller with a truncate or retuse pore and connective with a minute dorsal tooth and bilobed ventro-basal appendage. Style glabrous, 3 mm long; stigma clavate-truncate; ovary 3-locular, 1/2 inferior, apex glabrous; berry 3-5 X 4-6 mm, purple at maturity. Seeds ovoid, minutely granulate, 0.7-1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Local and uncommon, rain forest margins, savanna, gallery forest, stream banks. 0-800(-1100) m. Mexico (Jalisco southward), SE Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. MEXICO: Tabasco (Cowan 2505, CAS); Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 57803, CAS); BELIZE (Bartlett 11657, CAS); GUATEMALA (Standley & Williams, 1963:471); HONDURAS (Williams 10360, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Sidwell et al. 749, CAS); NICARAGUA (Stevens 21714, CAS); COSTA RICA (Morales et al. 4209, CAS); PANAMA (von Wedel 528, MO).

Taxonomy and Systematics: This widespread variable species can be sorted into two distinctive foliar morphs. Some populations have elongate non-decurrent petioles whereas others have short petiolate or subsessile leaf blades that are basally subauriculate and decurrent.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]