Tococa caudata Markgr.
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Authority
Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005.
(Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114. (Published by NYBG Press) -
Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Peru. Loreto: OstPeru, Mittlere Marañon, Mundung der Apaga, in flutfreien Hochwald, 145 m. u. d M., bluhend 23 Dez 1924, Tessman 4815 (holotype B [destroyed; photo NY]. Neotype designated by Michelangeli (2001a). Peru, Loreto: Río Nanay, 120 m, 4 Jan 1976, Gentry, A. & Ayala, F 15549 (neotype F; isoneotypes AMAZ, MO, NY).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub or small tree, to 4.5 m tall; stems glabrous, the nodes glabrous. Leaves slightly anisophyllous, one leaf 10-15% smaller than the one opposite, oblong to ovate, 10-25(-31) X (2.5-)4-9(-12) cm, apex acuminate to aristate or caudate, base attenuate around the domatia, round to subcordate, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous, light green, 5-plinervate, the first pair of secondary veins diverging at the apex of the domatium, membranaceous to chartaceous, ciliolate-serrulate; petioles 1.2-3.0 cm long, glabrous; domatia immersed in the leaf blade, ovoid, 1.0-1.6 X 0.9-1.5 cm. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of 30-50(-70) flowers, 8-18 cm long, the axis green, flattened, densely stellate-puberulous. Flowers on pedicels 1.2-5.5 mm long, flared at the apex, subtended by early caducous bracts, lanceolate, 0.5-0.9 X 0.2 mm; hypanthium conical, with an attenuate base, 3.5-4.5 mm long, stellate-puberulous; outer calyx teeth subulate, 2.5-3.0 mm long, glandular-setose; inner calyx teeth triangular, barely fused at the base, 1.0-1.5 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 5, oblong, 3.0-3.5 X 1.5-2.0 mm, base truncate to obtuse, slightly emarginate, smooth, glabrous, pink, light purple, or lilac; stamens all the same size; filaments 2.0-2.8 mm long, glabrous; anthers blue; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 2.5-3.0 mm long, opening by a upright pore; ovary 3-locular, totally inferior, the apex with a corona of short glandular setae; style glabrous, 5.5-6.5 mm long; stigma capitate, 0.8-1.0 mm wide (sometimes appearing funnelform when dried). Fruits urceolate, 5.5-7.0 mm long, blue, glabrous; seeds not evident through the pericarp, narrowly ovate, 0.7-1.3 mm long, with capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls flat, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.
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Discussion
Tococa caudata is very similar to T. cordata both in vegetative and reproductive characters, but it has denser canopies, much smaller flowers on larger inflorescences, and a totally inferior ovary and is usually found in sunnier areas. It has the smallest flowers of Tococa sensu stricto, but its inflorescences are among the largest and with the greatest number of flowers. Its domatia are usually inhabited by aggressive Azteca ants.
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Common Names
Pucacuru-caspi, anayo-caspi
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Distribution
SE Colombia, E Peru, and NW Brazil, along the upper Amazon River and its main tributaries in secondary flooded forests (tahuampa), gaps in gallery forests, palm swamps (morichales), or in savannas along small creeks from 80200 m. Flowering from November through March; fruiting through June.
Amazonas Colombia South America| Loreto Peru South America| Maynas Peru South America| Requena Peru South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|