Authority:

Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.

Family:

Melastomataceae

Discussion:

Diolena repens Gleason, Bull. Torrey Club 75: 541. 1948.

For both these taxa I have now been able to examine buds sufficiently mature to show the stamen structure. The affinity of both with the next-described species is evident, in aspect as well as in floral details; all three have a ciliate short ovarial collar, the same type of anther and stamen appendages, and the same kind of hypanthial pubescence. These transfers eliminate the genus Diolena from the Guayana Highland flora. M. repens is now also known from the slopes of Ptari-tepui (Rteijcnuark 59461, Maguire & Wurdack 33928) and from Mt. Ayanganna (Maguire, Bagshaw, & Maguire 40584-A).