Miconia sylvatica Naudin

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia sylvatica Naudin

  • 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: Mexico, Schiede & Deppe s.n. (HAL!)

    Description: Shrub 1-4 m tall, the rounded-quadrate to quadrisulcate uppermost cauline internodes, young petioles, very young leaves, primary elevated veins on abaxial foliar sufaces, inflorescence rachis, and young hypanthia moderately to densely covered with a stellate indument. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in size; the blades 5-nerved, elliptic-ovate, 7-22 x 3.2-11.5 cm, the apex gradually acuminate, the base rounded to cordulate, the margin entire to serrulate, the abaxial surface stellate puberulent but intermixed with or replaced by resinous glands on higher order veins and essentially glabrous on the actual surface, the adaxial surface glabrous, ± flat to somewhat rugose at maturity; petioles 0.9-5.5 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 5.5-11 cm long, the flowers 5-merous, sessile and borne in interrupted triad glomerules, the persistent to tardily deciduous narrowly triangular bracteoles 1 mm long and 0.5 mm wide at the base. Calyx tube 0.25 mm long, the broadly triangular calyx lobes 0.5 x 1 mm; the exterior calyx teeth tuberculate, 0.25 mm long and not projecting beyond the calyx lobe. Petals white, densely papillose on both surfaces, oblong-obovate, 2-3 x 1-1.5 mm. Anthers slightly dimorphic in size, white, linear-oblong, 1.5-2.5 mm long with a ventrally inclined pore; the connective thickened dorsally and diminutively bilobed ventro-basally (small anthers) and dorso-basally (large anthers) into a deflexed ± flaring auriculiform appendage 0.5 mm long. Style glabrous, 4.5-7 cm long; stigma truncate; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, the apex elevated into a glabrous lobulate collar 0.25 high. Berry 3-4 x 4-5 mm when dry, dark purple at maturity. Seeds ovoid, the testa rugose and glossy, 0.5-0.75 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Montane evergreen forests, pastures, canyons, and disturbed sites. 560-1800 m. Mexico (Querétaro, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Hidalgo, and Veracruz) and Venezuela. MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove 50576, CAS); GUATEMALA (Rojas 341, US); HONDURAS (Rodriguez 152, CAS); EL SALVADOR (Croat 42283, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia sylvatica is very similar to M. laevigata but it is distinguished from that species by the inflorescence architecture (elongate panicle of interrupted triad glomerules vs. well-spaced flowers on spreading secund or subsecund outer branchlets). The ovary apex of M. sylvatica is typically glabrous but it is prevailingly papillose in M. laevigata. Although both of these species have an androecium that consists of anthers that are alternately slightly unequal in size, in M. sylvatica all anther pores appear to be ventrally inclined. In M. laevigata the larger anthers have a ventrally inclined pore and the smaller ones have a truncate to retuse pore.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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