Tococa symphyandra (Triana) Cogn.
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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. Colombia: Barbacoas, 1600 m, Triana 4102 (holotype K; isotypes BM, BR, COL [n.v.], P).
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Synonyms
Miconia symphyandra Triana, Miconia barbicaulis Gleason, Tococa variegata Markgr.
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Description
Species Description - Shrub, to 0.5-1.5(-2.5) m tall; stems with a mix of glandular and nonglandular setae, the trichomes 5-15 mm long, retrorse, late caducous, the nodes glabrous. Leaves isophyllous to moderately anisophyllous, broadly ovate to cordate, 9.5-22.0 X 7.0-18.0 cm, apex acuminate to acute, base broadly round to cordate, adaxial surface sparsely to moderately setulose, the trichomes adpressed, 0.5-2.0 mm long, abaxial surface moderately to densely glandular-pubescent on the primary and secondary veins, the trichomes caducous, the surface between the veins fine-setulose, light green, 7 (-9)-nervatewhen domatia absent, plinervate when domatia present, with the secondary nerves diverging right above the apex of the domatium, membranaceous, crenulate to obscurely crenulate, ciliate; petioles 2.0-14.0 cm long, densely pubescent; domatia often present, immersed in the leaf blade, globose to ovoid, clearly separated into two chambers, one on each side of the main vein, 1.2-2.2 X 0.8-1.2 cm. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of 8-15(-25) flowers, 8-20 cm long, the axis green, terete. Flowers on pedicels 1.0-5.0 mm long, not flared at the apex, subtended by late caducous bracts, subulate to setiform, 1.5 X 0.2 mm; hypanthium campanulate, 2.5-3.0(-3.5) mm long, glabrous; outer calyx teeth mostly fused to the inner teeth, with a subulate apex projecting beyond them, 0.25-0.5 mm long, inner calyx teeth broadly deltoid, hyaline, 2.0-2.5 mm long; the ring inside the torus with minute glandular trichomes; petals 5, obovate, 6.0-8.0(-9.0) X 4.0-5.5 mm, base truncate to obtuse, entire, smooth, glabrous, pink to white; stamens all the same size; filaments 3.5 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow, laterally connivent and forming a ring around the style; the connective without a dorsal-basal blunt tooth, but the base prolonged into a retrorse triangular appendage 1.0-1.5 X 1.0 mm; thecae 2.0-2.5 mm long, opening by 1 terminal pore. Ovary 5-locular, terete, 1/2-2/3 inferior, the superior portion spherical, with a corona of short (up to 1.5 mm) glandular setae; style glabrous, 6.0-9.5 mm long; stigma truncate. Fruits globose, 3.5-4.0 mm long, black to deep blue, glabrous; seeds not evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate, 0.5-0.6 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, with sculpturing, anticlinal walls curved, periclinal walls flat to slightly convex, boundaries between periclinal walls flat.
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Discussion
Tococa symphyandra and T. croatii are obviously closely related taxa. They share the presence of connivent anthers and a triangular-shaped appendage at the base of the anther connective. These species differ in their leaf pubescence and ant domatia immersed in the leaf blade on some specimens of T. symphyandra. The presence of these domatia might have caused Cogniaux (1891) to transfer this taxon from Miconia to Tococa. However, the morphology of the domatia of T. symphyandra is quite different from that of species in Tococa sensu stricto. They are usually ventrally compressed and reduced, and the opening is highly pubescent. Also, the morphology of the androecium differs from that of any Tococa sensu stricto. However, these characters are not found in Miconia either; therefore, the placement of these two species is problematic, as was recognized by Almeda (1989) when he described T. croatii.
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Distribution
W Colombia and Ecuador, common in the understories of montane and cloud forests up to 2000 m.
Pastaza Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Santiago-Zamora Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America|