Clidemia epiphytica (Triana) Cogn.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia epiphytica (Triana) Cogn.

  • Primary Citation

    Monogr. Phan. 7: 1025. 1891

  • Basionym

    Sagraea epiphytica Triana

  • 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: Woody climbing vines with adventitious roots appressed to tree trunks. Leaves strongly dimorphic in each pair; blades ovate, apex acuminate, base cordate to rounded, the margin irregularly serrulate; larger leaf at each node 7-9-nerved, (5-)10.5-27.5 cm long, (2.7-)7.5-17.5 cm wide, petioles 2-14(-20) cm long; smaller leaf 3-nerved, early deciduous, 1-1.8(-3.7) cm long, 0.7-2 cm wide, petioles 0.2-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence a basally branched few-flowered paniculiform cyme 1-3.5 cm long borne in opposite upper leaf axils and at nodes below the leaves; flowers 4-merous, the pedicels 1-4 mm long, the persistent bracteoles elliptic to narrowLy triangular, 1-2 X 0.5-1 mm. Hypanthia sparsely beset with spreading obscurely barbellate hairs and an inconspicuous ground layer of minute deciduous glandular hairs, calyx lobes inconspicuous, broadly triangular-ovate, 1-1.5 X 1.5 mm, the conspicuous elliptic-ovate ciliolate exterior teeth 2-4 mm long from the torus (fruiting hypanthia), the torus within glabrous. Petals white, glabrous, obovate-oblong, 2-3 X 0.5-1 mm. Filaments 1.5-2 mm long; anther sacs 1.5 mm long with a dorsally inclined pore; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged. Ovary 4-locular, completely inferior, the apex glabrous, berry 3.5-4 mm diam, bluish-violet when ripe. Seeds smooth, linear-pyramidate, ca 0.5 mm long.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.