Blakea scarlatina Almeda

• Region

  Central America

• Country

  Costa Rica

• State/Province

  Alajuela

• Locality

  La Fortuna. Foothills NE of Volcan Chato.

• Elevation

  Alt. 580 m. (1903 ft.)

• Coordinates

  10.4561, -84.6764

• Geodetic Datum

  WGS84/NAD83

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

PLANTS OF COSTA RICA
<Melastomataceae>
Blakea scarlatina Almeda
det. D. S. Penneys, 31 Aug. 2005
Prov. Alajuela: La Fortuna. Foothills NE of Volcan Chato.
Elev. 580m. Large hemiepiphytic shrub attached to host
(Iriartea sp.) ca. 1.8m from ground; rather globose in
overall form with outer edges ca 3m from trunk. Floral
bracts green, connate; calyx green abaxially, red adaxially
at anthesis but gradually yellowing in post-anthesis. Petals
dark red to red, white proximally; filaments white, thecae
and connectives yellow (the latter slightly darker); style
white, sharply curved near apex. Young fruits yellowing,
no apparently mature fruit found though this was a large
and abundantly reproductive individual. Fragrance noted
at 1600-2000h unusual, musky, vaguely minty and quite
similar to B. tuberculata and B. tapantiana.
Lat. 10 27.36N Long. 84 40.58W Datum: WGS 84.
coll. Darin S. Penneys # 1797	31 y\ug 2005
Additional material: Dhotos: DNA: SDirit.
02684964