Miconia dolichorrhyncha Naudin

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia dolichorrhyncha Naudin

  • Primary Citation

    Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. 16: 166. 1851

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype 1291

  • 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: Peru, Mathews 1291 (P!)

    Description: Tree 3-15 m tall, the compressed-rounded uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, abaxial leaf surfaces, and inflorescence rachis copiously covered with stalked-stellate and/or ± sessile stellate hairs. Leaves of a pair ± equal to somewhat unequal in size; blades 5-nerved, ovate-elliptic to lance-elliptic, 8.5-28 x 3-11.1 cm, apex caudate-acuminate, base broadly acute to rounded, the margin entire, the adaxial surface glabrous; petioles 1-3.5 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 10-24 cm long; flowers 5-merous, subsessile or on pedicels 0.1-0.2 mm long, the early deciduous linear bracteoles 0.25-0.4 mm long and less than 0.25 mm wide. Hypanthia stellate-puberulent at anthesis but essentially glabrous in fruit. Calyx obscurely 5-undulate (0.1 mm long) that collectively fall away as a narrow circumscissile ring on fruiting hypanthia; the exterior teeth minute and barely evident. Petals white, minutely papillose-granulose on both surfaces, obovate, 1-1.25 x 0.5-0.75 mm. Anthers isomorphic, 1-2 mm long, white, cuneate and widest distally, 2-celled and ventrally rimose to the base; connective narrowly prolonged 0.6-0.8 mm abaxially the thecae but unappendaged. Style glabrous, 2.25-2.5 mm long; stigma truncate; ovary (3-)4-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex glabrous and lobulate; berry 2-3 x 2.5-3 mm when dry, orange or yellow-orange at maturity. Seeds ± triangular in outline, rounded or angulate on the convex face, the testa smooth, 1-1.5 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in disturbed sites, secondary rainforest, roadsides, lake margins and marshy areas. 160-1150 m. Trinidad, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia, Guyana and northern and central-western Brazil. COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3059, CAS). PANAMA (Folsom 3974, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: This species is readily recognized by the caudate-acuminate leaves, stipitate-stellate indument, anthers that are ventrally rimose to the base, minutely papillose-granulose petals, circumscissle calyx that falls away as a narrow ring on fruiting hypanthia, and orange to yellow-orange mature berries. The label on one Costa Rican collection (Grayum et al. 6014, CAS) indicates that the "fruit apparently become deep-blackish-purple when ripe". Like other species of Miconia, it is possible that the berries are initially orange or yellow and eventually turn black-purple at maturity.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.