Brachyotum weberbaueri 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
-
Description
Species Description - Trichomes markedly shaggy. Branchlets rounded-quadrangular, densely and persistently fine-hirsutulous, the hairs to 1.5 mm. long. Petiole 8-10 mm. Blade 17-30 x 6-13 mm., elliptic with the apex blunt-acute and the base acute, the 3 primaries impressed above and elevated below, the 30-35 pairs of secondaries obscure above and mostly obscured by the pubescence below; above densely tuberculate-strigulose, the hairs 8-10/mm.2 and in 20-30 irregular rows at the widest part of the blade with their bases 0.3-0.4 mm. diam. and their abruptly attenuate tips to 0.4 mm. long; below very densely hirsutulous, the larger hairs to 1 mm. long and about 15/mm.2 intermingled with a dense (35-40/mm.2) covering of minute pseudo-stellate hairs. Flowers 4-merous, ternate or with an additional pair at the node below the dichasial node, the slightly reduced leaves subtending the dichasium caducous usually just after anthesis. Pedicel 0.5-1 mm. below bracteoles, 1-3 mm. above; pedicellar bracteoles 3-4.5 x 0.8-1.3 mm., oblong-lanceolate, caducous usually just after anthesis, above glabrous, below moderately loose-strigulose. Hypanthium 3.5-4.5 x 4-4.5 mm., 0.3 mm. thick medianly, densely ascending-hirsutulous, the hairs 14-l6/mm.2 with their bases 0.3-0.6 mm. diam. and their rather abruptly long-attenuate apices to 2 mm. long. Sepals 3.5-4 x 3-4 mm., triangular with acute apices, united at bases 0.5 mm., the sinuses acute. Petals "viridia margine violacea," 11-13 x 9-10 mm., obovate with the apices obliquely truncate, the marginal cilia 0.3-0.8 mm. and with rather caducous glandular tips. Filaments 3.5-4.5 mm.; anthers 2.5-3 mm.; connective at anther base 0.8-0.9 mm. wide but not at all prolonged nor free of the anther. Style 15-20 x 0.8 mm., exserted 6 mm. Ovary 4 x 3 mm., sparsely short-strigulose on the apical 1.5-2 mm., the apical lobes 0.5 mm. above the locules.
-
Discussion
Type Collection and Locality: Weberbauer 4405 (LECTOTYPE BR; isotype G-DEL; fragment F); Peru, Dept. Amazonas, "Tambo Ventillas, ad orientem a Chachapoyas versus," alt. 2400-2600 m. Known only from the type collection.
Type Photographs: Gleason 28-7 and F16720 (destroyed holotype at B). The closest relative of B. weberbaueri seems to be B. ledifolium which has similar lower leaf surface hairs, petal shape, and ovary; however, the affinity is distant. In many respects, B. weberbaueri suggests a linkage to B. angustifolium, the sepals, petals, and inflorescence being somewhat similar; the peduncles, while stout and not differentiated, are partially cernuous.