Miconia benthamiana Triana

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia benthamiana 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.

    Type: Holotype: Ecuador, Sinclair s.n. (K!)

    Description: Shrub 1-3 m tall, the rounded-quadrate uppermost internodes, and inflorescence branches moderately to sparsely covered with spreading glandular hairs 2-3 mm long underlain with a dense to moderate cover of sessile and/or stalked branched hairs. Leaves of a pair equal to unequal in size, blades 7-9-nerved, ovate to cordate, 8.5-20 x 5.8-15 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base cordate to subcordate, the margin denticulate to undulate-denticulate, the adaxial surface moderately puberulent with scattered spreading mostly glandular hairs 0.25-1 mm long intermixed with roughened, bifid or branched hairs up to 0.25 mm long, the abaxial surface indument like the upper cauline internodes but the glandular hairs on the primaries and higher order veins and actual surface 1-3 mm long ; petioles 2.5-12 cm long. Inflorescence an openly branched multiflowered panicle 5-20 cm long; flowers 7-8-merous and pleiostemonous on pedicels 0.5-2 mm long; the subulate bracteoles 1-1.5 x 0.2-0.25 mm, the apex terminating in a gland-tipped hair, otherwise the indument on the abaxial surface like that of the inflorescence. Hypanthia and calyx lobes moderately beset with spreading glandular hairs 0.5 mm long underlain with hairs like the cauline internodes; calyx tube 0.5-1 mm long, the calyx lobes oblate to oblong-ovate, 1.5-2 x 1.5 mm, the margin conspicuously puberulent; the exterior calyx teeth subulate to tuberculiform, 0.5-1 mm long and slightly exceeding the calyx lobes. Petals white sometimes flushed with pink, glabrous, the margin deciduously fringed with minute glandular and branched hairs, obovate to obovate-oblong, 5-9 x 3-4 mm. Anthers isomorphic, 24-40 per flower, 2-3 mm long, yellow, 4-celled, the apical pore truncate to somewhat ventrally inclined; connective thickened and prolonged abaxially the thecae for about 0.2 mm. Style glabrous or sparsely glandular-puberulent basally; stigma capitellate; ovary 7-8-locular, completely inferior, apex glabrous and elevated into a deciduous lobulate collar about 0.25 mm high (at anthesis); berry 5-8 x 5-6 mm when dry, maroon to purple at maturity. Seeds ovoid, the testa densely muriculate, ca. 0.25 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Local and uncommon in rain forest margins, disturbed sites. 200-1200 m. Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3412, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 6085, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: This species is unlike most congeners in Mesoamerica in having pleiostemonous 7-8-merous flowers, large cordate leaf blades, and 4-celled anther thecae. The glandular hairs on the internodes and foliage are golden yellow when fresh and stain the skin yellow.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.