Tococa platyphylla Benth.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa platyphylla Benth.

  • Primary Citation

    Pl. Hartw. 181. 1845

  • Description

    Description Author and Date: Fabian A. Michelangeli, January 2010, based on Michelangeli, F. A. (2005). Tococa (Melastomataceae). Flora Neotropica Monographs 98: 1-114.

    Type: Colombia: “In diclivitate occidentali Andium Popayanensium”, Harrtweg s. n. (holotype ).

    Description: Erect shrub, up to 0.5-2.0 (-3.5) m tall. Stem internodes glabrous to very sparsely setulose, the trichomes 2-3 (-5) mm long, the nodes with tufts of glandular and non glandular trichomes up to 4-10 mm long. Petioles 3-17 cm long, densely to sparsely pubescent, mostly on the adaxial surface, the trichomes 3-10 mm long. Leaves isophyllous, elliptic to ovate, (7.0-) 10-22 x (6-) 10-22 cm, apex broadly acute to round, base cordate to round, adaxial side sparsely glandular setose, the trichomes usually caducous, abaxial side the primary and secondary veins with short (less than 4 mm long) thin trichomes, the surface near the base glandular setose, the inframarginal area adpresse-setose, otherwise sparsely glandular setose to glabrous, light green, with (2-)3 pairs of secondary veins, plinervate, the secondary nerves diverging 0,5-3.5 cm above the base of the blade, membranaceous to chartaceous, entire, adpress ciliolate; domatia absent. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, 5-15 (-20) cm long, with 10-50 (or more) flowers, the axis green, terete; flower pedicels 0.2-0.5 mm long; bracts persistent, lanceolate to oblong, 1.5-2.5 x 0.5-1.0 mm; hypanthium campanulate, 3.0-3.5 mm long, sparsely to moderately fine-setose, the trichomes glandular and eglandular; sepals broadly deltoid, fused at the base up to 0.5 mm, slightly imbricate, 2.5-3.0 mm long, calyx teeth narrowly deltoid, projecting upwards parallel to the sepals, but not projecting beyond the sepals, 0.8-1.2 mm long; the ring inside the torus with minute glandular trichomes. Petals 5, oblong to elliptic, entire, 10-13 x 7-8 mm, smooth, glandular setulose towards the apex, white. Stamens of two different sizes, the filaments 4.0-5.0 mm long, glabrous; anthers blue; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 3.5-4.5 mm long, opening by a upright pore. Ovary 5-locular, 1/2-2/3 inferior, the superior portion sulcate, the apex truncate; style glabrous, 8-10 mm long; stigma capitate. Fruits globose, 4.0-4.5 (-5.5) mm long, black, glabrous. The seeds evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate, 0.5-0.8 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, with sculpturing, anticlinal walls s-shaped, periclinal walls flat, boundaries between periclinal walls flat. Chromosome number n= unknown.

    Habitat and Distribution: Mountains of Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama Colombia, W Venezuela, and Ecuador. Growing in the understory of premontane, montane and cloud forests from 300 to 2000 m.

    Taxonomy and Systematics: Tococa platyphylla is a highly polymorphic species, particularly regarding leaf and inflorescence size, as well as the density of flowers per inflorescence. However, floral characters are all highly conserved, and allow for clear differentiation from the other 3 species in the species complex. For comments on its systematic position see discussion under T. meridensis.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Tococa platyphylla Benth.: [Article] Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114.