Tococa stephanotricha Naudin

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa stephanotricha Naudin

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: in Brasilia septentrionali, secus flumen Amazonum, loco dicto Maynas Alto. Poeppig 1844 (holotype P; isotype BR).

  • Synonyms

    Tococa temnoptera Gleason

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub, to 1.0-3.0(-4.5) m tall; stems densely glandular-setose, the trichomes 3-4 mm long, persistent, the nodes glabrous. Leaves slightly anisophyllous, one leaf 20-25% smaller than the one opposite, oblong to ovate, the larger leaves 11-25 X 6-9(-12) cm, apex acute to long acuminate, base round to obtuse, adaxial surface adpressed-setose, abaxial surface sparsely glandular-pubescent, densely hirsute to glandular-setose on the primary and secondary veins, light green, 5-nervate, membranaceous, entire to serrulate, slightly ciliolate; petioles (1.0-) 1.5-3.5 cm long, with glandular and nonglandular setae; domatia free from the leaf blade, usually present in both leaves of each pair, globose to ovoid, 0.81.5(-2.5) X 0.5-1.2(-l.7) cm. Inflorescence an axillary, occasionally terminal, panicle of 5-15 flowers, 3-7(-10) cm long, the axis green, terete, densely glandular-setose, the trichomes with a crimson to brown tinge. Flowers on pedicels, thin (less than 0.5 mm wide), 8-11 mm long, flared at the apex; bracts absent; hypanthium conical, 7-8 mm long, with 8-10 wings (0.2-0.5 mm wide) that run from its base up to the torus, projecting 0.5-1.5 mm from the hypanthium surface, the larger set opposite the calyx, the smaller one alternate the calyx, the wings densely glandular-setose, glabrous in between; outer calyx teeth projecting upwards, subulate and slightly laterally compressed, inner calyx teeth obscurely lobed, membranaceous, 7-9 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 4-5, 10-13 X 5-6 mm, base oblong to slightly attenuate, emarginate at the apex, the margins retuse, smooth, glabrous, red to dark pink, turning white after anthesis; stamens all the same size; filaments 5-6 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 4.5-5.5 mm long, opening by a ventrally inclined pore; ovary 3(-5)-locular, 1/2-2/3 inferior, the superior portion conical, the apex with a corona of short (1.5 mm long) setae; style glabrous, 13-14 mm long, purple to fuchsia; stigma peltate, 3 mm wide. Fruits globose, 7-9 mm long, black, glabrous between the hypanthium wings, glandular-setose on the wings; seeds evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate to triangular, 0.6-1.5 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls convex, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.

  • Discussion

    Tococa stephanotricha is closely related to T. stenoptera, from which it can be distinguished easily by inflorescence morphology and stem pubescence. Variation across populations in the sizes of the outer and inner calyces and the petals makes the differentiation of T. stephanotricha from T. temnoptera difficult; therefore, the latter is here considered to be a synonym.

    The original description of T. stephanotricha cites the ovary as 5-locular, but dissections of considerable numbers of specimens have shown that this character is variable even within flowers of the same individual. Most flowers dissected had 3-locular ovaries, although some had 5-locular and very rarely 4-locular ovaries. Also, variation occurs in the merosity, with about half of the specimens bearing 5-merous flowers, and the other half bearing 4-merous flowers.

    In addition to the characters of the calyx, traditionally used to distinguish T. stephanotricha, T. quadrialata, and T. gonoptera (see key), T. stephanotricha tends to have larger paniculate inflorescences, while the other two species have cymose or subumbellate inflorescences. However, considerable variation occurs in the size and shape of the calyx wings across these taxa, making the differentiation between T. stephanotricha and T. quadrialata or T. gonoptera extremely difficult for some specimens. The amount of variation in calyx morphology is such that the recognition of these three species may not be warranted. However, until more material is studied, particularly of T. gonoptera, they will be considered as distinct species. In general, specimens with the character combination associated with T. stephanotricha tend to be found at higher elevations than those traditionally determined as T. quadrialata or T. gonoptera. Also, see note under T. stellata in poorly known taxa.

  • Distribution

    NE Peru, adjacent SE Colombia, and NW Brazil, in understories of montane tropical forests from 200-1100 m.

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