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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

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, Bonpland s.n. (P!).

Description: Shrubs 1-3 m tall, the branchlets, petioles, and inflorescences moderately to densely hirsute with smooth hairs 1.5-2.5 mm long, moderately underlain with a ground layer of stellulate hairs. Leaves 5-7-nerved, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 13-18(-23) X 5.4-12.7 cm, covered adaxially with appressed or spreading smooth hairs 1-2 mm long, covered abaxially with spreading hairs 1-2 mm long, the primary and higher order veins also beset with a ground layer of hyaline oblong glands, apex acute to acuminate, base broadly rounded to obtuse, the margin ciliolate-serrulate; petioles 2-8(-10) cm long. Inflorescence 7-21 cm long; flowers 5-merous, sessile, the caducous bracteoles triangular, 0.5-1 X 0.5 mm. Hypanthia sparsely covered with smooth, spreading hairs 1.5-2 mm long, underlain with a mixture of stellate hairs and hyaline oblong glands; calyx lobes broadly rounded, 0.5 mm long, the bluntly deltoid exterior teeth 0.5 mm long tipped with a smooth hair ca. 1 mm long. Petals oblong-obovate, 2.5-3 X 1.5-2 mm. Anthers linear-oblong, arcuate to incurved, 2-2.5 mm long, white, the pore ventrally inclined; connective thickened dorsally and minutely bilobed ventro-basally. Style glabrous; 4 mm long; stigma not expanded; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex glabrous; berry 3-4 X 3-4 mm,blue-black at maturity. Seeds pyriform, coarsely granulate, 0.7-1 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common, cloud forest, disturbed sites. 1000-2000 m. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Guyana. MEXICO:Chiapas (Breedlove 49887, CAS); GUATEMALA (Lundell & Contreras 20995, CAS); HONDURAS (Nelson & Vargas 2234, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Villacorta & Helleybuck 2068, CAS); NICARAGUA (Moreno 23497, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda & Nakai 3950, CAS): PANAMA (Woodson et al. 1143, MO).

Taxonomy and Systematics: The distinctive foliar and hypanthial hyaline glands appear to be identical to those reported for Stussenia membranifolia (Hansen, 1985:18).

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]