Macairea radula (Bonpl.) DC.

  • 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

    Macairea radula (Bonpl.) DC.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub, 1.5-2 m tall; branchlets, petioles, and peduncles sericeous with slightly curled glandular hairs. Leaves broadly elliptic to narrowly ellipric, 5-8 x 2.5-4 cm, obtuse or minutely apiculate, acute at base, 5-nerved, the lateral primary veins arising at the blade base, the outermost pair close to the margin, upper surface densely hirsute with conical glandular hairs, gland heads caducous, lower surface densely sericeous with long, thin, slightly curied glandular hairs, the lateral secondary veins outlined with dense pubescence of long, slightly curied hairs, the areoles hirsute with shorter glandular hairs; perioles (0.5-)1-2 cm long. Inflorescence a many flowered terminal paniculate cyme. Flowers with pedicels (1-)2-3 mm long; pedicels, bracts, hypanthium, and calyx lobes hirsute with glandular hairs; hypanthium 1.8-2.2 x 1.7-2.2 mm; calyx lobes subulate, 2-3 mm long; petals basally white, turning red with age, apically pink, 7-8 x 4-5 mm; filaments 10-11 or 8-9 mm long, ventrally with short-stalked glands; thecae 4-5 mm long, the connective minutely prolonged and expanded dorsi-basally; ovary apically with glandular hairs, 4-locular. Fruit capsular. Seeds 0.5-0.7 mm long, subcochleate.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 28D-F.

    Rhexia radula Bonpland in Humboldt & Bonpland, Monogr. Melast. 2: 107, tab. 41. 1820. Type: Brazil. (fl), Ferreira s.n. (=223), 1790/91 (holotype: P!, F photo neg. 36142!; isotypes: LISU!; B destroyed, but represented by a photo, H. A. Gleason s.n.!).

    Macairea adenostemon De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 109, 484. 1828a. Type: Brazil. Mato Grosso: Nr. Cuiaba, Jun 1833 (fl), Manso 177 (=Martius Herb. Fl. 210) (holotype: G-DC!; isotypes: BR!, G!, K!, LE!, M!, MO!, NY!, P!, W!).

    Macairea adenostemon var. ursina Schrank & Martius ex De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 109. 1828a. Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Sequetinhonha river (fl), Martius s.n. (holotype: M!, F photo neg. 6338!).

    Macairea adenostemon var. martiana Cogniaux in Martius, Fl. bras. 14(3): 245. 1885 & 14(4): 569 (addenda). 1888. This includes the type ofthe name Macairea adenostemon De Candolle and should be replaced by Macairea adenostemon DC. var. adenostemon.

    Macairea adenostemon var. rotundata Pilger, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 30: 179. 1902 (1901). Type: Brazil. Mato Grosso: Upper Rio Ronuro, infrequent in dry campo at forest edge, 25 May 1899 (fl), Meyer 634 = Pilger 634 (holotype at B destroyed, but represented by a photo, H. A. Gleason s.n.).

    Macairea mosenii Cogniaux in Martius, Fl. bras. 14(3): 242, pl. 57. 1885 & 14(4): 595 (addenda). 1888. Type: Brazil. Sao Paulo: Between Casabranca and Cajuru, Mar 1857 (fl), RegneU III.n.20 (lectotype, here designated: S!; isolectotypes: C!, S!, US!).

    Macairea sericea Cogniaux in Martius, R. bras. 14(3): 243, tab. 58. 1885. Type: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Nr. Joao d'El Rei, s.a. (fl), Pohl 620 (=1228) (lectotype, here designated: BR!; isolectotypes: NY!, W!).

    Macairea ledifolia Cogniaux in Martius, Fl. bras. 14(3): 245. 1885. Type: Brazil. Bahia: S. loc. [prob. nr. Salvador along Paraguagii river], Nov 1818 (fl), Martius s.n. (holotype: M!, F photo neg. 6339!).

    Macairea rotundifolia Cogniaux, Comm. Linh. Telegr. Estr. Matto Grosso, Publ. 10, Annexo 5, Bot. 3: 7. 1912. Type: Brazil. Mato Grosso: Tres Jacus, Jun 1909 (fl), Hoehne 2184 (holotype: B R frag.!).

    Macairea goyazensis Hoehne, Mem. Inst. Butantan, Sec. Bot. 1(5): 60, pl. 8, fig. 2. 1922. Type: Brazil. Goias: Sao Gongalo, 1912 (fl), LUtzelburg 1280 (holotype: RB!).

    Macairea moraisiana Brade, Arq. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 16: 30, pl. 3, figs. 1-10. 1959b. Type: Brazil. Goias: Niquelandia, 26 Feb 1956 (fl), Macedo 4459 (holotype, HB!).

    Macairea macedoi Brade, Arq. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 16: 31, pl. 3, figs. 11-17. 1959b. Type: Brazil. Goias: Jatai, Ribeirao Grande, in varzea vegetation, 1 Aug 1956 (fl), Macedo 4631 (holotype: HB!; isotypes: S!, SP!, US!).

    Macairea radula, in spite of the many named varieties, is readily recognized by the dense pubescence of the leaves, consisting of rather long hairs, which on the lower surface give the lateral secondary veins a wavy appearance.

    Macairea radula is illustrated in Bonpland (1820), de Candolle (1828b), Cogniaux (1885, pl. 57, as M . mosenii and pl. 58, as M . sericea), and Brade (1959b).

  • Distribution

    Distribution and ecology (Fig. 35A): Macairea radula is widespread in central Brazil where it grows in cerrado vegetation ("campo rupestre"), grassy savannas, and gallery forests at elevations from a few hundred meters up to 950 m.

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