Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.
Melastomataceae
Latin Diagnosis - Ex descriptione et photicone C. repenti Tr. affinis sed pubescentia breviore foliorum subtus nervis secundariis evidentibus elevatis. Caulis scandens radicans teres petiolique modice setulosus pilis 0.3-0.5 mm longis minute barbellatis primum rubris d e mum brunneis p.p. primum glanduliferis glandulis m o x deciduis. Folia opposita non vel vix disparilia; petioli 5-9 mm graciles; lamina 2.5-4.5 X 2-3.3 cm late oblongo-ovata apice per 3-7 mm subabrupte hebeti-acuminata basi rotundata vel truncata coriacea nitida integra, supra glabra, subtus in costa basim versus primum sparse setulosa demum glabrata alioqui glabra, modice ciliolata ciliis barbellatis ca. 0.5-0.8 mm longis, 3-5-nervata venis primariis supra impressis subtus elevatis nervis secundariis supra obsoletis subtus utrinque 8-10 cum tertiariis laxe elevato-reticulatis. Flores m foliorum axillis singuli 5-meri; pedicelli 4-5 mm longi sparse setulosi ca. 2 mm supra basim et ad hypanthii basim bibracteolati; bracteolae lineari-setaceae 1-1.3 mm longae persistentes. Hypanthium 2 mm longum modice (praecipue basim versus) setulosum pilis ca. 0.8-1 mm longis sparse barbellatis; calycis lobi mteriores ca. 0.8 mm longi ovato-oblongi, dentibus exterioribus lineari-setaceis sparse setuliferis lobos interiores ca. 2 mm superantibus. Petala ca. 2.3 X 1-1.2 mm oblongo-obovata apice rotundata glabra. Filamenta 1.5 mm longa; antherarum thecae ca. 2 mm longae lineari-oblongae connectivo ventraliter exappendiculato dorsaliter cum appendice hebeti 0.1-0.2 mm longa. Stylus ca. 4 X 0.15 mm; stigma truncatum. Fructus baccatus ca. 3 mm diam sphaericus.
Type. Climber in forest, Mt. Kanaima, Potaro District, British Guiana, alt. ca. 450 m, 19 A u g 1959, B. A. Whitton 104 (holotype K).
The photograph of C. repens (Macbride 36352) shows the leaf surfaces and serrulate margins with hairs 1-1.5 mm long and with no development of prominently elevated lower surface venules. The one mature flower of the Whitton specimen was not dissected, all measurements being taken dry. The geographic pairing of Clidemia species between the Pacific coast of Colombia and the Guianas also occurs in C. chocoensis Wurdack—C. conglomerata DC. The general vegetative aspect of C. sandwithii is much like that of the two radicant cumbre Leandra species. Commemoration of Sandwith's Guianan research is especially pleasurable for one who has been aided both by much personal correspondence and by the example furnished of meticulous taxonomy.