Mouriri myrtifolia Spruce ex Triana

Authority

Morley, Thomas. 1976. Melastomataceae tribe Memecyleae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 15: 1-295. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Melastomataceae

Scientific Name

Mouriri myrtifolia Spruce ex Triana

Type

Type. Brazil: Amazonas: near Panure at Rio Uaupes; igapó. In flower, Sep 1852, R. Spruce 2433 (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, BR, CGE, G, G-DC, GH, GOET, IAN-frag., K, MG, NY, OXF, P, W).

Description

Description - Glabrous shrub or usually a tree to 11 m high; crown much-branched; young twigs terete or channelled; wood very hard. Petioles 1.6-4.0 mm long; blades dark rich green above, somewhat shining, dull green below, drying dark, 3.5-11.0 cm long, 1.4-4.8 cm wide, ovate to ovate-elliptic or ovate-oblong or narrowly so, acuminate to caudate or abruptly so at the apex, rounded to acute and often abruptly attenuate at base; midrib grooved above, rounded below; lateral nerves obscurely visible or invisible when dry. Xylem of lateral veins usually open above, rarely tubular; stomatal crypts Type II, averaging in a leaf ca 22-42 µ in diameter, 20-28 µ high, 20-100 per sq mm (extremes 15-55 µ diam, 19-28 µ high, 10-100 per sq mm); hypodermis none; mucilage walls none; free stone cells only in base of petiole; terminal sclereids round to elliptic to rectangular, the sides curved or angled, usually armless, sometimes with a few short arms, rarely (Wurdack & Monachino 40999) with several to many short arms. Flowers 1-3 in the leaf axils, 1 per peduncle; peduncles 1.3-2.8 mm long with 2-4 internodes, bearing (2-)3-4 pairs of bracts; bracts 0.5-1.7 mm long, broadly rounded and apiculate to ovate-triangular and acute, usually connate-perfoliate, the upper ones broader and more rounded, the lower ones progressively smaller and more acute, all present at anthesis, and persistent on the mature fruit. Margins of bracts and calyx lobes sometimes minutely fringed. Flowers fragrant, sessile, the true pedicel 0; calyx including inferior ovary pale green, 1.7-2.7 mm long, obconic to slightly campanulate; inflorescence glabrous on outer surfaces except for puberulence on edges of calyx lobes and bracts; free hypanthium ca 0.6-0.7 mm long; calyx lobes triangular, 0.5-1.0 mm long, 0.9-1.8 mm wide, ca 0.8-1.5 mm long when measured from stamen attachment, the calyx not splitting between lobes at anthesis. Petals yellow, elliptic to obovate-oblong, acute, 2.4-5.5 mm long, 1.0-2.5 mm wide. Filaments yellow, 3.5-5.5 mm long; anthers deep yellow, 1.3-3.5 mm long; sporangia 0.6-1.1 mm long, dehiscing by apical slits; gland 0.2-0.4 mm long, 1.0-2.3 mm from apex of anther when measured from center of gland; cauda 1.0-1.7 mm long. Ovary 1-locular; ovules free-central, all at the same level, 11-14; style 5.5-9.0 mm long. Fruit edible, orange turning deep red, depressed globose, not grooved nor ridged, crowned with the persistent calyx, ca 7-12 mm high excluding calyx and 9-15 mm thick when dry, estimated 8-15 mm high and 10-18 mm thick when fresh. Seed 1, ellipsoid, ca 6.0-8.3 mm high, 8.0-11.2 mm wide, 5.0-6.5 mm thick, without a visible hardened or polished area representing the outer face of the ovule, the surface shallowly rugose, with a small bump at the top where the chalazal strand enters the seed and a narrow groove at base leading to the micropyle.

Discussion

The Guaicas Indians used parts of the plant for fastening on arrowheads (Aristeguieta & Lizot 7433.

Common Names

Waracu-pomi-yi-yek

Distribution

Generally northwestern, in comparison to Amazonia. In Venezuela, northwest Merida, west Apure, west and southeast Bolivar, and south Amazonas; in Brazil, western Amazonas and northwest Roraima; in Peru, Loreto. Moist forests, often near streams, above or below flood level, from low elevations up to 1220 m.

Mérida Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America| Peru South America|