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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 28: 104. 1871

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, Seemann 1030 (K).

Description: Shrubs or small trees 1.5-6 m tall, the distal branchlets, petioles, elevated leaf veins beneath, inflorescences, and hypanthia moderately to densely covered with inconspicuously stalked asperous-headed hairs. Leaves 3-5-nerved or 3-5-plinerved, elliptic, elliptic-ovate or rarely elliptic-obovate, (8-)12-31.5 X 3.5-15.5 cm, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glabrous on the actual surface but sparingly beset with asperous-headed hairs on secondary and higher order venation, apex acuminate, base somewhat auriculate to obtuse, the margin obscurely undulate to entire; petioles 0.5-1.3 cm long. Inflorescence (5-)7-15 cm long, narrowly subspicate, the 5-merous flowers sessile, born in subverticillate clusters, the persistent bracteoles narrowly triangular, 1-2 mm long. Calyx a truncate or gently undulate limb 1 mm long, the tuberculate exterior teeth 0.25 mm long but not projecting. Petals glabrous, obovate-oblong, 4-5 X 2-2.5 mm. Stamens essentially isomorphic; anthers subulate, 4-5 mm long, yellow, the pore ventrally inclined; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged but typically beset with minute glands at the base. Style glandular-puberulent, 7-10 mm long; stigma capitellate; ovary 3-locular, 1/2 inferior, apex elevated into a minutely glandular-puberulent cone; berry 6-8 X 6-8 mm, purple-black at maturity. Seeds ovoid-pyramidate, 1.5 mm long, angulate, coarsely and irregularly rugulate, the testa typically distended at the base into a short foot-like spur.

Habitat and Distribution: Local and uncommon, rain forest. 0-750 m. Colombia and Venezuela. NICARAGUA (Martinez & Riviere 2121, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda & Daniel 7022, CAS); PANAMA (Croat & Grayum 60137, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: The filaments and style in this species are sparsely to moderately glandular-puberulent. Miconia simplex is very similar to and perhaps not distinct from M. furfuracea (M. Vahl) Griseb. of the Lesser Antilles and M. sanctiphilippii Naudin of Venezuela.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]