Clidemia cymifera Donn.Sm.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia cymifera Donn.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 14: 25. 1889

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- H. von Türckheim 709

    Specimen 2: Isotype -- H. von Türckheim 709

  • Description

    Description Author and Date: Frank Almeda, based on Almeda, F. (2009). Melastomataceae. In: G. Davidse, M. Sousa-Sânchez, S. Knapp, & F. Chiang (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana: Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): 164-338.

    Type: Holotype: Guatemala, von Tuerckheim 709 (US!)

    Description: Shrub 1-1.5 m tall, the terete uppermost internodes stellate-tomentose becoming glabrescent with age. Leaves of a pair ± equal to somewhat unequal in size, the blades 4-10 x 2-6.2 cm, ovate, 5-7-nerved, apex acuminate, base rounded to subcordate, the margin ciliate and subentire, the adaxial surface of young leaves sparsely to moderately stellulate-lepidote but glabrescent to glabrous in age, the abaxial surface sparsely stellate-pubescent on the elevated primary and secondary veins. Inflorescence an axillary paniculiform few-flowered dichasium 2.5-7 cm long that is typically branched at the base and paired at a node; flowers 4-merous on stellate-pubescent pedicels up to 1 mm long; bracts and bracteoles subulate, persistent, 0.5-1 mm long. Hypanthium moderately covered with a stellate indument but commonly glabrescent in fruit. Calyx lobes 1-1.5 x 1-1.5 mm, broadly triangular; exterior calyx teeth subulate to conic, ca. 1 mm long and essentially glabrous. Petals glabrous, white, oblong to narrowly obovate, 7-9 x 2-3 mm. Filaments 3-3.5 mm x 0.25 mm, anthers 2.7-3 x 0.5 mm, yellow with a truncate to somewhat dorsally inclined pore; connective somewhat thickened dorsally and prolonged ca. 0.25 mm below the anther sacs but unappendaged. Ovary 4-locular, 2/3-inferior, apex glabrous and ± rounded in fruit. Berry apparently reddish when ripe, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds 0.5 mm long, the testa vaguely rugulate to almost smooth; 2n=34.

    Habitat and Distribution: Rare and local in cloud forests. 1150-2500 m. MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Davidse 55015, CAS); GUATEMALA (Steyermark 48952, F). (Endemic)

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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