Clidemia inobsepta Wurdack

• Authority

  Wurdack, John J. 1967. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. Camp. Melastomataceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 16: 1-45.

• Family

  Melastomataceae

• Scientific Name

  Clidemia inobsepta Wurdack

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - C. sprucei Gleas. affinis, sed floribus 5-meris differt. Rami teretes sicut petioli vesicae foliorum venae primariae secundariaeque subtus modice vel sparse stellulato-puberuli et modice setosi pilis 1.5-3 mm longis rigidiusculis persistentibus p. p. caduce glanduliferis. Folia chartacea dimorphica supra sparse setosa pilis 1-2 mm longis p. p. minore glanduliferis, subtus in venulis sparse setosa pilis 1-1.5 mm longis. Folia maiora vesicifera; petioli 3-5 mm longi; vesicae ad petioli apicem insertae ca. 1 X 0.8 cm scrotiformes; lamina 11-15 X 5-8 cm elliptica ápice per 1-2 cm subgradatim acuminato basi vix (3-5 mm) cordata margine irregulariter undulato-serrulata, 5-nervata jugo exteriore tenuiore. Folia minora non vesicifera; petioli 0-2 mm; lamina 1.5-3.5 X 1.5-3.5 cm rotundata vel ovato-rotundata apice abrupte per 0.2-0.5 cm acuminato basi 0.2-0.8 cm cordata, 3-nervata (jugo exteriore debili neglecto) margine integro vel obscure undulato. Flores 5-meri sessiles in foliorum axillis multifasciculati pedunculis non vel vix (ad 3 mm) evolutis dense stellulalo-puberulis; bracteolae 1 X 0.6 mm lanceolatae persistentes apice unisetoso. Hypanthium (ad torum) 3.5 mm longum anguste campanulatum dense stellulato-puberulum; calycis tubus 0.7 mm altus, lobis interioribus 0.5 mm altis extus et intus sparse stellulato-puberulis, dentibus exterioribus ca. 1 mm longis subulatis ad apicem seta única 1-1.3 mm longa armatis. Petala 3.6-3.8 X 1.8-2 mm crassiuscula glabra vix obovato-oblonga ápice retuso vel rotundato. Stamina isomorphica glabra; filamenta 2.5-2.7 mm longa; antherarum thecae 2.7-2.8 mm longae convolutae minute uniporosae oblongo-lanceolatae, connectivo usque ad filamenti insertionem non prolongato dorsaliter infra filamenti insertionem dente 0.4-0.5 X 0.2-0.3 mm descendente rotundato vel emarginato armato. Stylus 7.2 X 0.4 mm glaber; stigma 0.7 mm diam.; ovarium 5-loculare omnino inferum apice glabro.

• Discussion

  Type Collection: W. H. Camp E-1051 (holotype US 2404674; isotype NY), collected in the Cordillera Cutucú, opposite Chupiantza, Prov. Santiago-Zamora, Ecuador, elev. 600-700 m, 17 Nov. 1944. “Occasional in forest after windfalls, filling the opening with solid mat of plants, arching to 1 m. Petioles are formicaria. Corolla white.” Paratype: Amy Jean Gilmartin 614 (US), collected 3 km from Puyo, Napo-Pastaza. Clidemia sprucei, also found in Amazonian Ecuador and Peru, has strictly 4-merous shortly pedicellate flowers with the setiform portion of the external calyx teeth only 0.2-0.3 mm long. Clidemia heterophylla (Desr.) Gleas. shows well-developed peduncles and pedicels, as well as densely setose hypanthia.