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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 1146. 1927

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Isolectotype -- A. H. Gentry

Common Names:

Pucacuru-caspi, anayo-caspi

Description:

Description Author and Date: Fabian A. Michelangeli, January 2010, based on Michelangeli, F. A. (2005). Tococa (Melastomataceae). Flora Neotropica Monographs 98: 1-114.

Type: Peru. Loreto: OstPeru, Mittlere Marañon, Mundung der Apaga, in flutfreien Hochwald, 145 m. u. d M., bluhend 23 Dez 1924, Tessman 4815 (holotype B [Photo at NY], destroyed). Neotype, designated by Michelangeli (2001a). Peru, Loreto: Río Nanay, 120 m, 4 Jan 1976, Gentry, A. & Ayala, F. 15549 (neotype, F; isoneotypes AMAZ, MO, NY).

Description: Shrub or small tree, to 4.5 m tall. Stems glabrous, the nodes glabrous. Petioles 1.2-3.0 cm long, glabrous. Leaves slightly anisophyllous, one leaf 10-15% smaller than the one opposite to it, oblong to ovate, 10-25 (-31) x (2.5-) 4-9 (-12) cm, apex acuminate to aristate or caudate, base attenuate around the domatia, round to sub-cordate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous, light green, with 2 pairs of secondary veins, plinervate, the first pair of secondary veins diverging at the apex of the domatium, membranaceous to chartaceous, ciliolate-serrulate; domatia immersed in the leaf blade, ovoid, 1.0-1.6 x 0.9-1.5 cm. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, of 30-50 (-70) flowers, 8-18 cm long, the axis green, flattened, densely stellate puberolous. Flowers on pedicels 1.2-5.5 mm long, flared at the apex, subtended by early caducous bracts, lanceolate, 0.5-0.9 x 0.2 mm; hypanthium conical, with an attenuate base, 3.5-4.5 mm long, stellate; sepals triangular, barely fused at the base, 1.0-1.5 mm long, calyx teeth subulate, 2.5-3.0 mm long, glandular setose; the ring inside the torus glabrous. Petals 5, oblong, 3.0-3.5 x 1.5-2.0 mm, base truncate to obtuse, slightly emarginate, smooth, glabrous, pink, light purple or lila. Stamens all of the same size, the filaments 2.0-2.8 mm long, glabrous; anthers blue; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 2.5-3.0 mm long, opening by a upright pore. Ovary 3-locular, totally inferior, the apex with a corona of short glandular setae; style glabrous, 5.5-6.5 mm long; stigma capitate, 0.8-1.0 mm wide (sometimes appearing funneliform in dried specimens). Fruits urceolate, 5.5-7.0 mm long, blue, glabrous. The seeds not evident through the pericarp, narrowly ovate, 0.7-1.3 mm long, with capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls flat, boundaries between periclinal walls flat. Chromosome number n= unknown.

Habitat and Distribution: SE Colombia, E Peru and NW Brazil, along the upper Amazon River and its main tributaries. Growing on secondary flooded forest (Tahuampa), gaps in Gallery forests, palm swamps (morichales) or in savannas along small creeks from 80 to 200 m.

Phenology: Flowering November through March, fruiting through June.

Ecology: Its domatia are usually inhabited by aggressive Azteca ants.

Taxonomy and Systematics: Tococa caudata is very similar to T. cordata both on vegetative and reproductive characters, but it has denser canopies, much smaller flowers on larger inflorescences, a totally inferior ovary and it is usually found in sunnier areas. Tococa caudata has the smallest flowers of Tococa sensu stricto, but its inflorescences are among the largest and with the largest amount of flowers.

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Tococa caudata Markgr.: [Article] Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114.