Tococa quadrialata (Naudin) J.F.Macbr.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Tococa quadrialata (Naudin) J.F.Macbr.

  • Primary Citation

    Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(4): 474. 1941

  • Basionym

    Microphysa quadrialata Naudin

  • Common Names

    Pariaconpar

  • 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: Peru. Cuzco: Gay s. n. (holotype P).

    Description: Shrub, to 1-4 m tall, occasionally decumbent, with adventitious roots up to 25 mm long in the branches near the ground. The younger stems quadrangular, with a mix of glandular and non-glandular setae, the trichomes 4-7 mm long, persistent, the nodes glabrous. Petioles 0.5-1.5 (-2.5) cm long, with glandular and non glandular setae. Leaves anisophyllous, elliptic to ovate, the larger leaf 13-28 x 9-13 cm, the smaller leaves reduced 20-30%apex acute to long acuminate, base acute to obtuse, adaxial surface adpressed-setose, abaxial surface sparsely glandular pubescent, densely hirsute to glandular setose on the primary and secondary veins, light green, with 2 pairs of secondary veins, basally nervate, membranaceous, crenulate, ciliate; domatia free from the leaf blade, usually present in both leaves of every pair, occasionally highly reduced in the smaller leaves, ovoid to elliptic, occasionally narrowly elliptic, 1.0-2.0 -(3.0) x 0.8-1.2 cm. Inflorescence a cyme, terminal but quickly becoming axillary by overgrowth of the lateral meristem, occasionally axillary, at the base of the younger leaves, of 4-9 flowers, 2-4 cm long, the axis green, terete. Flowers on pedicels thin (less than 0.5 mm wide), 3-11 mm long, slightly flared at the apex, bracts absent; hypanthium conical, 5.0-5.5 mm long, with 8 wings (0.2-0.5 mm wide) that run from the base of the hypanthium up to the torus, the larger set opposite the sepals and projecting up to 2 mm from the surface of the hypanthium, the smaller one alternate the calyx, the wings densely glandular setose, glabrous in between; sepals broadly deltoid, fused3/5 to the apex, 5.5 mm long, calyx teeth projecting upwards as subulate teeth, and laterally compressed, projecting 2-3 mm from the surface of the hypanthium, 2-5 mm long, glandular pubescent; the ring inside the torus glabrous. Petals 4, obovate-oblong, 11-13 x 4.5-5.5 mm, base oblong to slightly attenuate, emarginated at the apex, the margins retuse, smooth, glabrous, pink. Stamens all of the same size, the filaments 5-6 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow; the connective with a dorsal-basal blunt tooth; thecae 4.5-5.0 mm long, opening by a ventrally inclined pore. Ovary 3-locular, inferior, the superior portion broadly conical, the apex with a corona of short (1. 5 mm long) setae; style glabrous, 9-11 mm long; stigma peltate, 2 mm wide. Fruits globose, with the calyx persistent and slightly reflexed, 6.5-8 mm long, black, glabrous between the hypanthium wings, glandular setose on the wings. The seeds evident through the pericarp, truncate-obovate to triangular, 0.6-1.5 mm long, without capitate trichomes in the raphal area, without sculpturing, anticlinal walls straight, periclinal walls convex, boundaries between periclinal walls flat. Chromosome number n= unknown.

    Habitat and Distribution: Growing in the understory of Tierra Firme forests and bamboo forests in E and SE Peru and NW Bolivia, from 200 to 1200 m.

    Taxonomy and Systematics: For a detailed discussion of the affinities of T. quadrialata, see discussions under T. stephanotricha and T. gonoptera.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Tococa quadrialata (Naudin) J.F.Macbr.: [Article] Michelangeli, Fabián A. 2005. (Melastomataceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 98: 1-114.