Bellucia acutata Pilg.

  • Authority

    Renner, Susanne S. 1989. Systematic studies in the Melastomataceae Bellucia, Loreya and Macairea. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 50: 1-112.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bellucia acutata Pilg.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or treelet, 1-6 m high; bark light gray, smooth. Leaves 11-15 x 4-6 cm, oblong (lanceolate), shortly acute, base rotundate or acute, the inner pair of lateral primaries departing 1-3 cm above the base, the outer pair very close to the leaf margin, glabrous; petioles 2.5 cm long. Cymes congested or rarely 2-3-branched, in the axils of existing leaves, glabrous; pedicels ca. 2 cm long. Flowers (6-)7-merous; hypanthium 4-5 mm long, glabrous; calyx a calyptra, dehiscing in an irregular semicircle, drying as a hyaline membrane, often persistent after anthesis; petals 12-15 mm long, white, pink-flushed outside; filaments 3-5 mm long, thecae ca. 5 mm long; ovary (8-)10(-11)-locular; style 10-13 mm long. Fruit a greenish-yellow, subglabrous berry. Seeds ovoid, ca. 0.7 mm long, testa irregularly tuberculate.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution and ecology (Fig. 8): Bellucia acutata is characteristic of central Amazonian savannas, which are often subjected to regular burning and flooding.

  • Discussion

    Type: Brazil. Amazonas: Lower Marmelos, Mar 1902, Ule 6097 (lectotype here designated: HBG!; isolectotypes: G!, MG!, F photo neg. 5976!). Holotype at B destroyed, but represented by a photo, F neg. 17248!.

    Figs. 1B; 2A; 11A, B.

    Bellucia acutata resembles Bellucia grossularioides, except for its lanceolate leaves, shrubby habitat, and small reproductive structures. It mostly has seven petals and 14 stamens, but only 10 ovary cells instead of 14 as would be the case in perfectly 7-merous flowers; occasionally, 11 or 12 cells develop in the ovary. This may be an indication that along with the evolution of the shrubby habit and axillary position of the flowers, an overall reduction in the size ofthe flowers and, concomittantly, the fruits occurred (compared to the ancestral condition which probably was grossularioides-like).