Tococa spadiciflora Triana

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa spadiciflora Triana

  • Type

    Type. Colombia. Chocó: Triana 36327 (holotype K; isotypes P, COL [n.v.]).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub, up to 3 m tall; stems densely pubescent, with a mix of thick nonglandular persistent trichomes, up to 6 mm long, and sparse lepidote hairs, caducous in the older branches, the nodes glabrous. Leaves is-ophyllous, obovate, 22-35 X 10-17 cm, apex obtuse to slightly acuminate, base acute, adaxial side densely pubescent, the trichomes up to 6 mm long, adpressed to the leaf surface, abaxial side as the adaxial surface but the trichomes not adpressed, light green, 5(-7)-nervate, membranaceous, obscurely serrulate, ciliate; petioles 0.2-1.1 cm long, with pubescence as on the stems; domatia present, free from the leaf blade, ovoid to narrowly ovoid, deeply corrugated and with large pores throughout he surface opening into the inner chamber, 1.3-2.2 cm X 0.6-1.0 cm. Inflorescence a terminal raceme of numerous flowers, 6-15 cm long, the axis green, terete to slightly quadrangular. Flowers sessile; bracts persistent, elliptic, with 6-10 long apical bristles (up to 3 mm), 1.2-1.6 X 0.5-0.7 mm; hypanthium campanulate, slightly 10-costate, 2.5-2.6 mm long; outer calyx teeth inconpicuous, but with numerous apical setae (up to 4 mm long), inner calyx teeth broadly deltoid, 1.0 mm long, with 5-10 apical thin bristles up to 3 mm long; the ring inside the torus glabrous; petals 5, emarginate, 3-4 X 1.5-2 mm, smooth, glabrous, white to green; stamens all the same size; filaments 3-4 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective without a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 2.5-2.1 mm long, opening by 2 small upright pores; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, the superior portion conical, the apex glabrous; style pubescent at the base, 7-8 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruits globose, 3.0-3.5 mm long, black; seeds not evident through the pericarp, ovate, 0.3-0.4 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls curved, periclinal walls convex, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.

  • Discussion

    Tococa spadiciflora is easily recognized by its verrucose domatia and thin racemose inflorescences. Both of these characters are not seen elsewhere in the genus, although similar domatia are present in Clidemia killipii. For a detailed discussion of possible affinities of this species, see the section on phylogenetic relationships above.

  • Distribution

    E Colombia and N Ecuador, in the understories of primary and secondary forests up to 1000 m. Flowering year-round.

    Antioquia Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Esmeraldas Ecuador South America|