Authority:

Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

Family:

Melastomataceae

Description:

Latin Diagnosis - G. obliquae Tr. affinis sed foliis apice longe caudatis venis primariis subtus non barbatis calycis lobis minoribus. Rami novelli foliis inflorescentiisque primum modice granuloso-furfuracei demum glabrati. Petioli 1.5-4.5 cm; lamina (acumine excluso) 7-13 X 4-7 cm elliptica apice per 1.5-3 cm caudato-acuminata basi obtusa fragilis 5-plinervata nervis primariis interioribus 0.5-1.5 cm subalternatim supra basim insertis nervis tertiariis tenuibus laxe reticulatis. Panicula laxe pauciflora terminalis 3-5 cm longa; flores 4-meri breviter (0.5-2 cm) pedicellati. Hypanthium (ad torum) 2.2 mm longum graciliter 8-costatum sparse vel modice resinoso-furfuraceum; calycis tubus 0.9 mm altus, lobis 0.3 mm longis late rotundatis dentibus exterioribus non eminentibus. Petala 3.1 X 1.4-1.7 mm obovato-oblonga apice obtusa vel rotundata. Filamenta 2-2.2 mm longa; antherarum thecae 2.8-3 mm longae arcuato-subulatae, connectivo basi postice calcari 0.1-0.2 mm longo acuto armato. Stylus 6.5 X 0.2 mm; stigma punctiforme; ovarium biloculare superum apice sparse vel modice granuloso-furfuraceum. Fructus maturus ignotus.

Discussion:

Type. Tree 6 m X 5 cm diam, flowers white, occasional in Cunuria forest, Membaru-Kurupung trail, Pakaraima Mts., British Guiana, alt. 1000 m, 29 Oct-4 Nov 1951, Bassett Maguire & D. B. Fanshawe 32404 (holotype US 2342458).

G. obliqua has the axils of the inner pair of primary lower leaf surface veins setulose, leaf blades only gradually and shortly blunt-acuminate, and acute calyx lobes 1-1.5 m m long. Although G. obliqua was described by Cogniaux as having 3-4-locular glabrous ovaries, the material available to m e shows apically granulose-furfuraceous 2-celled (occasionally 3-celled) ovaries. Both G. latifolia (Naud.) Triana and G. anomala Triana, with bilocular ovaries, have leaves quite different from G. caudata. Calyptrella littoralis Gleason is synonymous with G. anomala; however, I do not have available at present sufficient material to establish the proper generic disposition of this Choco (Colombia) species.