Brachyotum

  • Authority

    Wurdack, John J. 1953. A revision of the genus Brachyotum (Tibouchineae-Melastomataceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (4): 343-407.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Brachyotum

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs or shrubby trees, with more or less quadrangular, pubescent, decorticating branchlets. Trichomes smooth to very shaggy, sometimes gland-tipped. Leaves isomorphic, variously pubescent or tuberculate to nearly glabrous. Flowers 4-5-merous, pendulous, solitary or in 2-3-flowered dichasia, the dichasia sometimes aggregated into panicles or corymbs. Hypanthium campanulate, sometimes closely invested by one or several pairs of large persistent bracts. Sepals usually erect, without exterior teeth. Petals free but connivent and imbricate in a campanulate tube, usually glabrous except for the cilia. Stamens 8 or 10, isomorphic, glabrous; anthers lanceolate to oblyrate, uniporose; connective at the anther base exappendiculate, or ventrally prolonged immediately below and partially adherent to the thecae into a more or less bilobed appendage. Style slender, usually glabrous, usually exserted at anthesis; stigma punctiform; ovary free, 4- or 5-celled, pubescent apically with apical lobes more or less developed above the locules; ovules axile, numerous. Fruit capsular, dry, loculicidal; seeds cochleate, pitted.

  • Discussion

    Arthrostemma sect. 11. Brachyotum DC. Prodr. 3: 136. 1828.

    Chaetogastra DC. Prodr. 3: 131, p.p. typ. excl. 1828.

    Genotype: Brachyotum quinquenerve (R. & P.) Triana.