Tococa caryophyllaea (DC.) S.S.Renner

  • Authority

    Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa caryophyllaea (DC.) S.S.Renner

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Ega [now Tefé], Martius s.n. (holotype M).

  • Synonyms

    Truncaria caryophyllaea DC., Miconia caryophyllaea (DC.) Triana, Acinodendron caryophyllum (DC.) Kuntze

  • Description

    Species Description - Vine, to 2-4 m tall; stems glabrous to sparsely setulose, the trichomes 1-2 mm long, caducous, the nodes glabrous. Leaves isophyllous, elliptic-oblong, 9-14 X 4.5-6.0 cm, apex round, abruptly shortly acuminate, base round to slightly cordate, the sinus up to 3 mm long, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous to very sparsely setulose, 5-nervate, chartaceous to coriaceous, entire, adpressed-ciliolate; petioles 1.5-3.5 (-6.0) cm long, very sparsely glandular-setose; domatia absent. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of 10-20 flowers, 5-20 cm long, the axis slightly flattened. Flowers on pedicels 2-4(-5.5) mm long, articulated at the base of the hypanthium, abruptly flared at the apex; bracts unknown, perhaps early caducous; hypanthium conical, 8-9 mm long, glabrous; outer calyx teeth absent, inner calyx teeth obscurely 5-lobed, truncate, 1.5-2.0 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 5, obovate-oblong, 6 X 4.0 mm, truncate to slightly emarginate, pruinose, glabrous, pink; stamens all the same size; filaments 5.0-6.0 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow, apically subulate; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 7.5-9.0 mm long, opening by a upright to dorsally inclined pore; ovary 3-locular, 1/4 inferior, the superior portion terete, the apex with a glabrous ring, 0.5-0.7 mm tall; style glabrous, 1518 mm long; stigma slightly funnelform, 1.5 mm wide. Fruits globose, 10-12 mm long, black, glabrous; seeds not evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate, 0.8-1.0 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls flat, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.

  • Discussion

    Tococa caryophyllea is an unusual species within the genus because of its unique habit, which distinguishes it from the closely related T. cinnamomea. For a detailed discussion of the history and taxonomy of this taxon, see Renner (1997).

    The original description of Truncaria caryophyllea cites the locality as Pará, but the specimen label indicates Ega (now Tefé) in Amazonas, NW Brazil.

  • Distribution

    S Venezuela, NE Peru, and N Brazil in the understories of white sand forests.

    Amazonas Venezuela South America| Loreto Peru South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|