Tococa carolensis Gleason
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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. Bolivia. La Paz: San Carlos, near Mapiri, Buchtien 976 (holotype NY; isotype K, NY, US).
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Description
Species Description - Shrub, to 0.5-2.0 m tall. Stems with a mix of sessile clavate glands up to 0.3 mm long and glandular trichomes 2.0-3.5 mm long, caducous, the nodes glabrous. Leaves anisophyllous, elliptic-oblong, the larger ones (12-) 15-25 X (4.5-)7.0-l 1.5 cm, the smaller ones, 1/2 to 1/3 of that size, apex shortly acuminate, base broadly acute to obtuse, adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely adpressed-setose, abaxial surface glabrous but with the primary veins with a mix of short clavate glands and sparse glandular trichomes 2 mm long, the secondary and tertiary veins fine-setose, light green, 3-nervate, membranaceous, entire to obscurely undulate-serrulate, glandular-ciliate; petioles 0.5-3.0 cm long, with pubescence as on the stems; domatia present in larger leaves but often absent in the smaller leaf of each pair, free from the leaf blade, ovoid, 0.8-2.5 X 0.5-1.2 cm. Inflorescence a panicle of 3-7(-12) flowers, terminal but quickly becoming axillary by overgrowth of the lateral meristem, occasionally axillary at the base of the younger leaves, 3-9 cm long, the axis flattened. Flowers on pedicels l.0-2.0 mm long, flared at the apex, subtended by caducous bracts, lanceolate, 1-2 X 0.2 mm; hypanthium campanulate, 5.0-6.5 mm long, with a mix of sparse glandular trichomes and sessile glands; the calyx in bud 7-8 mm long, including a 2 mm beak at the apex, dehiscing irregularly at anthesis, 2-3 mm above the torus; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 6, obovate, 10-11 X 5-7 mm, base truncate to obtuse, emarginate, smooth, glabrous, white; stamens pleiostemonous (13 or 14, rarely 15), all the same size; filaments 6.0-6.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective without a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 4.0-4.5 mm long, opening by a ventrally inclined pore; ovary 6-locular, 4/5-9/10 inferior, the superior portion terete, the apex with a glabrous ring, 0.5-0.7 mm tall; style sparsely glandular-setose at the base, 11-13 mm long; stigma capitate, 1.5-2.0 mm wide. Fruits urceolate, the persistent portion of the calyx reflexed, 6.0-7.5 mm long, black, sparsely glandular to glabrous; seeds not evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate, 0.5-0.7 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, with sculpturing, anticlinal walls curved, periclinal walls flat, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.
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Discussion
Tococa carolensis has several unique characteristics that make its generic placement difficult. Apparently, Gleason placed it in Tococa based solely on the presence of domatia and the pubescence. It lacks the anther connective tooth and has 6-merous flowers, a character otherwise seen only in T. macrosperma. It also has 13 tol4 stamens, making it pleiostemous, a character not found in Tococa sensu stricto. Perhaps the most striking characteristic of this species is the presence of a circumscissile calyx, also a characteristic not seen in any other species of Tococa. Other genera of Miconieae such as Conostegia and some species of Miconia also have a calyptrate calyx. However, the point at which the calyx dehisces is different in T. carolensis than in Conostegia, and the character does not seem to be homologous in these two cases (Michelangeli, 2000a). For a more detailed discussion on the systematic position of T. carolensis, see the section on phylogenetic relationships above.
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Distribution
Peru and Bolivia, in primary forests in the foothills of the Andes from 200-800 m. Flowering between September and March.
Amazonas Peru South America| San Martín Peru South America| La Paz Bolivia South America|