Brachyotum andreanum Cogn.

  • 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 andreanum Cogn.

  • Description

    Species Description - Trichomes smooth. Branchlets obscurely quadrangular, densely loose-strigose. Petiole 3-5 mm. Blade 11-16 x 7-12 mm., with length/width ratio 1.2-1.7, broadly elliptic to broadly ovate with the apex broadly acute to broadly obtuse and the base obtuse to sub-truncate, the 5 primaries and 10—12 pairs of secondaries as in 8. benthamianum; above densely long-strigulose to short-strigose 4-6/mm.2, the hairs as in 8. bentbamianum; below pubescent as in 8. benthamianum. Flowers 5-merous, ternate or solitary (when ternate occasionally with an additional pair of flowers at the node below the dichasial node), with each flower closely invested by 4 persistent bracts. Pedicel 1-2 mm. below bracts, 0.5-1 mm. above; bracts 8-12 x 6-8.5 mm., broadly elliptic with the apices rounded, 7-9-nerved, firm, outside densely strigose 11-12/mm.2, inside glabrous or sparsely hirsutulous basally. Hypanthium 6-7 x 6-6.5 mm., 0.3 mm. thick medianly, very densely sericeostrigose, the hairs to 3-6 mm. long. Sepals 6-8.5 x 5.5-6 mm., broadly ovate with the apices broadly acute to obtuse, united at bases 0.3-0.6 mm., imbricate 1-1.5 mm. on each side. Petals "vivide sanguinea" (fide holotype), 15 x 10-11 mm., obovate and slightly asymmetrical with the apices rounded, the gland-tipped cilia 0.1-0.3 mm. (the apical few 1.3-2.3 mm.). Filaments 5.5 mm.; anthers 4-5 mm.; connective at anther base 0.8-1.2 mm., free of anther 0.3-0.5 mm., the ventral lobing 0.2 mm. Style 22 x 0.35 mm.,exserted 4 mm. Ovary 6 x 4-4.5 mm., very densely short-strigose on the apical 3-3.5 mm., the apical lobes 0.8-1.5 mm. above the locules.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution: Definitely known only from Prov. El Oro-Loja border in Ecuador, alt. 2950 m.

  • Discussion

    Type Collection and Locality: Andre s.n. (HOLOTYPE K; isotype BR); "in Andibus centralibus Ecuadorensibus, altit. 3300 m."

    Type Photograph: Gleason 87-4 (holotype).

    All of the 12 examinable flowers among the various specimens seen were 5-merous. This species is very closely related to 8. benthamianum and has leaves quite similar to 6. campii.