Miconia stenophylla Wurdack
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Authority
Wurdack, John J. 1967. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. Camp. Melastomataceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 16: 1-45.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Sect. Cremanium. M. salicifoliae (Bonpl.) Naud. affinis, sed foliis uniner-vatis floribus minoribus diftert. Ramuli primum quadrangulati demum teretes sicut petioli pedicellique modice persistenterque granuloso-puberuli pilis 0.1-0.15 mm longis crassis minu-tissime clenseque barbellatis. Petioli 1-2 mm; lamina 8-14 X 1-2 mm rígida margine integro et válele revoluto anguste lanceolato-oblonga, uninervata costa supra profunde impressa subtus crasse elevata nervis secundariis ca. 0.5 mm inter se distantibus supra vix impressis subtus vix elevatis tertiariis non evolutis, supra glabra, subtus primum sparse vel modice granuloso-puberula demum glabrata. Flores 4-meri in dichasis terminalibus nutantibus 1-3-floris ordinati; pedicelli 2-4 mm longi ad h)panthii basim bibracteolati, bracteolis 1-1.5 X 0.3-0.6 mm oblongis vel spathulatis ante amhesim caducis. Hypanthium (ad torum) 1.7 X 2 mm modice granuloso-furfuraceum; calycis tubus 0.2 mm altus, lobis interioribus 0.3-0.4 mm altis triangularibus hebeti-acutis basi remotis, dentibus exterioribus appressis lobos interiores aequantibus. Pétala 1.4 X 1-6 mm suborbicularia resinoso-granulosa ápice rotundato et vix retuso. Stamina plerumque abortiva, filamentis 1 mm longis apicem versus sparse glanduloso-setulosis, antheris 1 mm longis dorsaliter ad basim minute appendiculatis. Stylus 3.4 X 0.4 mm modice granuloso-puberulus et sparse glanduloso-setulosus; stigma crassum 1.5 X 1.2 mm; ovarium 3-loculare ½-inferum apice conico 0.5 mm alto dense glanduloso-puberulo.
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Discussion
Type Collection: F. Prieto P-312 (holotype US 2404657; isotype NY; 3 additional isotypes to be distributed), collected on the crest of the eastern cordillera between Oña and the Río Yacuambi, Prov. Azuay-‘‘Oriente’ border, Ecuador, elev. 3000-3400 m, 10-19 Sep. 1945. ‘‘Shrub 1 m; pubescence of new growth brown-ochraceous; leaves deep green, subnitid above. Hypanthium yellowish, the callus-like calyx tube and lobes red. Petals pink. Style pink; prominent and enlarged stigma yellow, its base lobed; stigma forcing petals open. Filaments pink; anthers reddish-purple.” Miconia salicifolia has wider faintly 3-nerved leaves and hypanthia ¼-1/3 longer than in M. stenophylla. In vegetative aspect and granular pubescence, M. ledifolia (DC.) Naud. is quite similar, but has 5-merous flowers with a merely clavate-expanded (rather than galeate) stigma and glabrous ovary. Miconia tephrodes Wurdack is amply distinct in foliage (vide supra) Prieto P-312 is predominantly female, with only one perfect anther (broadly bipored with persistent connective apex) having been seen among the many flowers. Since only bisexual flowers have been seen in numerous collections of the closely related M. salicifolia, a hybrid origin might be suggested for M. stenophylla; the well-developed pistils seem to favor the dioecious explanation. The dense coating of sooty mold on older parts of the plants of M. stenophylla obscures vegetative details.