Miconia oligocephala Donn.Sm.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia oligocephala Donn.Sm.

  • Primary Citation

    Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 46: 111. 1908

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isosyntype -- H. von Türckheim II1781

  • 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: Syntype: Guatemala, Tuerckheim 8686 (US!)

    Description: Shrub or tree 2-12 m tall, the somewhat flattened uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, abaxial leaf surfaces, inflorescence axes and outer surfaces of bracts and bracteoles densely covered with a tan or ferrugineous stellate indument. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size, 10-15 x 2-5.6 cm, elliptic, 5-plinerved with the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from the midvein in opposite or alternate fashion 0.3-2 cm above the blade base, apex acuminate, base acute to obtuse (sometimes obliquely so), the margin denticulate to subentire, the adaxial leaf surface glabrous; petioles 1-3 cm long. Inflorescence a panicle 5-8 cm long with sessile or subsessile flowers borne in congested glomerules terminating the inflorescence branches; flowers 5-merous; bracteoles elliptic to linear-oblong, 2-5 x 0.5-3 mm, deciduous. Calyx tube 0.5 mm long, the calyx lobes 1.5 x 1.5-2 mm, rounded-triangular to oblong, the exterior calyx teeth oblong, 1-1.5 mm long, equaling or exceeding the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, obovate, 3.5-4 x 3-4.5 mm. Anthers isomorphic, yellow, 2.5-3 mm long, the pore ventrally inclined; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged. Style glabrous, 5-8.5 cm long; stigma truncate; ovary 5-locular, ca. ½ inferior, apex stellate-puberulent. Berry purple-black at maturity, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds angulate-ovoid, the testa smooth, 0.75 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Cloud forest. 1300-1950 m. MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove 35092, DS): BELIZE (Lundell 6608, NY); GUATEMALA (Tuerckheim II 1781, US). (Endemic)

    Taxonomy and Systematics: For notes on the superficial resemblance between this species and Conostegia plumosa see the discussion under the latter.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.