Tococa bullifera Mart. & Schrank ex DC.

Authority

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

Family

Melastomataceae

Scientific Name

Tococa bullifera Mart. & Schrank ex DC.

Type

Type. Brazil. Martius 6332 (holotype G, photos F, NY).

Synonyms

Tococa spruceana Cogn., Tococa ulei Pilg., Tococa bullifera var. glabrata Cogn., Tococa bullifera var. leiocalyx Cogn., Tococa bullifera var. luetzelburgii Suess.

Description

Species Description - Shrub or small tree, to 1-2(-3.5) m tall; stems with a mix of slender glandular and nonglandular setae, the trichomes 2.5 mm long, persistent, the nodes glabrous. Leaves anisophyllous, oblong to ovate, the larger ones 12-26(-33) X (4.5)6-11 (-14) cm, the smaller ones 6-12 X 3.5-7 cm, apex acuminate to shortly aristate, base acute, adaxial surface sparsely adpressed fine-setose, abaxial surface sparsely fine-setose on the tertiary veins, with a mix of sessile glands and nonglandular setae on the primary and secondary veins, 5-nervate, the 2 exterior secondary nerves not as thick as the interior pair, membranaceous, ciliate, occasionally slightly ciliate-serrulate; petioles 1-2.5(-5) cm long, with glandular and nonglandular setae; domatia present in both leaves or only the larger leaf of each pair, free from the leaf blade, ovoid to fusiform, 1.5-5.0 X (0.5-)l.0-2.0 cm, often darker than the surface of the leaf blade, often strigose on the abaxial surface near the petiole and the midvein. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of 8-16(-26) flowers, (3.5-)6-17 cm long, the axis dark red to magenta, quadrangular and winged, the margin of the wing ciliate, up to 6 mm wide. Flowers on pedicels 4-9 mm long, compressed and slightly winged, not flared at the apex, subtended by bracts, lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 X 0.2 mm, persistent until anthesis; hypanthium broadly conical to globose, 4.5-6.0(-7.0) mm long, with 12-15 obscurely raised veins that run from its base to the base of the calyx, glabrous to glandular-setose; outer calyx teeth reduced, 0.2-1.0 mm long, glandular-setose, inner calyx teeth deltoid to ovate, fused at the base 2/3 of the length, glandular-setose, 0.8-1.2 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 5, obovate, 4.5-6.5 X 3.0-4.0 mm, base truncate to obtuse, apex emarginate to obtuse, border entire, often undulate, smooth to finely pruinose, glabrous, pink; stamens all the same size; filaments 4.0-5.0(-5.5) mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 4.5-5.0 mm long, opening by a ventrally inclined pore. Ovary 3-locular, 1/2-1/4 inferior, the superior portion globose to broadly conical, the apex with a ring elevated 0.1-0.5 mm and densely pilose or with a corona of long glandular setae; style glabrous, 7.5-9(-11) mm long; stigma peltate to capitate, 1.5-2.0 mm wide. Fruits globose, (4.5-)6.0-9.0 mm long, black, sparsely glandular-setose; seeds not evident through the pericarp, triangular, 0.8-1.9 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls convex, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.

Discussion

Tococa bullifera is obviously related to T. guianensis, although the distinction between the two species is not always clear. However, T. bullifera can be recognized on the basis of its racemose inflorescences and the obvious veins on the hypanthium, which are lacking in T. guianensis. Additionally, the inflorescence is quadrangular and winged. The leaves of T. bullifera are also thinner than those usually found in T. guianensis, but due to the subjective nature of this character, it cannot be employed in a key. Tococa bullifera usually grows in more shaded and less disturbed environments than T. guianensis.

Distribution

S Venezuela, Brazil, and NE Peru, throughout the Amazon and Rio Negro basins in the understories of tierra firme forests and near creeks from 50-150 m. Flowering year-round, but peaking in the rainy season.

Loreto Peru South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|