Ossaea robusta (Triana) Cogn.

  • 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.

    Description: Shrub or small tree 1.5-6 m, the compressed-rounded upper branchlets, vegetative buds, petioles, primary and secondary abaxial leaf veins, inflorescences, and hypanthia copiously to moderately puberulent with pinoid and/or stelluate-furfuraceous hairs. Leaves 8.5-34.5 X 3.8-15 cm, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 5-plinerved, base acute to obtuse, apex acuminate, the margin obscurely and remotely denticulate, glabrous adaxially at maturity, abaxially sparsely beset with minute glands on the tertiary veins but glabrous on actual surface. Panicle terminal but commonly pseudolateral by overtopping lateral shoots, multiflorous, 4-7 cm long; flowers 5-merous, sessile or subsessile, the persistent triangular bracteoles 0.5 mm long. Hypanthium 1 mm long; calyx fused in bud but rupturing into 5 rounded hyaline lobes 0.5 mm long at anthesis, the minute external tuberculiform teeth typically not projecting beyond the lobes, the torus sparsely glandular adaxially. Petals lance-triangular, 2-4 X 0.75-1 mm, glabrate to stellulate-puberulent abaxially. Filaments 1.5-2 mm long; anther thecae 0.75-1 mm long with a dorsally inclined pore; the glandular appendage 0.25-0.5 mm long. Ovary 5-celled, 3/4 inferior, berry 10-costate.

    Habitat and Distribution: Rain forest, cloud forest, swamp forest. 40-1,400 m. (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.) COSTA RICA (Almeda & Anderson 5106, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 6212, CAS).

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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