Miconia dissitiflora Almeda

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia dissitiflora Almeda

  • Primary Citation

    Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. ser. 4, 46(5): 146. 1989

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- F. Almeda 3093

  • 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: Costa Rica, Almeda et al. 3093 (CAS!).

    Description: Sparingly branched shrubs 1-3 m tall, the uppermost branchlets and inflorescences moderately to sparingly stellate-furfuraceous. Leaves of a pair somewhat unequal in size; blades 5(-7)-plinerved with inner pairs of subparallel primary nerves elevated and diverging from median nerve in opposite fashion at successive points above blade base, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 6.5-22 X 3.1-10 cm, apex acuminate to attenuate, base rounded to subcordate but sometimes varying to slightly oblique, margin bluntly undulate-dentate to subentire, glabrous adaxially, glabrous to sparingly stellate on and adjacent to elevated primaries abaxially; typically subsessile and clasping or sometimes with petioles l-5(-9) mm long. Inflorescence a divaricately branched paniculiform dichasium 7-20.5 x 7-30 cm; flowers 5-merous on pedicels 1.5-2.5 mm long; bracts lance-triangular, 0.5-4 mm long; bracteoles evidently fused into a short nodal collar usually evident as an elevated interpetiolar ridge, lance-triangular to subulate, 0.5 mm long. Hypanthia glabrous to sparingly stellulate puberulent basally. Calyx closed in bud and crowned by an apiculum ca. 0.5 mm long but rupturing irregularly at anthesis into 2-5 persistent hyaline lobes 1-1.5 mm long; exterior calyx teeth, subulate, 0.5 mm long, glabrous. Petals white, glabrous, oblong-lanceolate, 3.5 X 5-2 mm. Anthers alternately unequal in length, 1.5-2 mm long, yellow, linear-oblong, truncate distally with a somewhat dorsally inclined terminal pore; connective slightly thickened dorsally but not dilated or prolonged abaxially the filament insertion. Style glabrous, 2.5-3 mm long; stigma truncate; ovary 5-locular, inferior, minutely and caducously puberulent at the apex. Berry 2.5-3.5 X 2.5 mm. Seeds galeiform, testa muricate or verrucose, 0.5 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Rain forest. 20-620 m. COSTA RICA (Herrera 4335, CAS). (Endemic).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia dissitiflora is unusual and evidently unique among New World berry-fruited melastomes in having the larger stamens inserted on the torus opposite the petals (vs. opposite the stamens). Among neotropical melastomes this condition is known only in the capsular-fruited genus Monochaetum. The small apiculate buds and plinerved leaves give M. dissitiflora an aspect reminiscent of Conostegia cinnamomea (Beurl.) Wurdack. The latter differs in having isomorphic stamens, a calyptriform, circumscissile calyx, and oblong, deltoid seeds that are somewhat angulate on the convex face.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.