Clidemia biolleyana 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.

    Type: Holotype: Costa Rica, Pittier 2537 (BR!).

    Description: Diffusely branched shrub 0.5-1.5 m tall, the terete upper internodes, petioles, primary and higher order veins on abaxial foliar surfaces, inflorescence rachis, pedicels, hypanthia and calyx teeth densely to moderately covered with an arachnoid tomentum of appressed matted stellulate hairs. Leaves of a pair dimorphic in size with callose-thickened vesicular structures (domatia?) borne on the primary veins at the abaxial blade base where the veins diverge from one another; the larger blade at each node 13.7-22.5 x 9.8-14.2 cm, broadly ovate to subrotund, apex acuminate to attenuate, base rounded, margin entire, 5-7-nerved, glabrous adaxially and on the actual surface abaxially; the smaller blade 3.6-10.7 x 2.5-7.9 cm, ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded, margin entire, 5-7-nerved, indument like that of the larger blade. Inflorescence an axillary, openly branched paniculiform dichasium (3-) 6-10 cm long; flowers 4-merous, subsessile or on pedicels to 0.25 mm long; bracts and bracteoles subulate, persistent to tardily deciduous, 0.5-1 x 0.25 mm, glabrous adaxially, glabrous to sparsely beset with an arachnoid-stellulate indument abaxially. Hypanthia distinctly 8-costate, urceolate and constricted distally into a subcylindric neck about 1 mm long. Calyx lobes 0.5 x 1 mm, broadly triangular but often obscured by the exterior calyx teeth; calyx teeth subulate, 0.5 mm long. Petals minutely papillose at least distally on both surfaces, white to greenish-white, oblong-obovate, 1.5 x 1.5 mm. Filaments 1.5 x 0.25 mm, anthers 1.5-2.5 x 0.5 mm, yellow with a dorsally inclined pore; connective slightly thickened dorsally and prolonged at the base into a broadly rounded gland-edged deflexed appendage about 0.2 mm long. Ovary 4-locular, completely inferior, apex slightly depressed and glabrous. Berry red to red-purple when ripe, 3-4 x 3-4 mm when dry. Seeds 0.5 mm long, somewhat angulate on the convex face, the testa smooth.

    Habitat and Distribution: Local and uncommon in rain forests, cloud forests, often on or near riverbanks. 600-1600 m. Also in Colombia (Chocó). COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 3193, CAS). PANAMA (Folsom 4516, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: A distinctive species readily recognized by the 8-costate hypanthia, arachnoid-stellulate indument, foliar dimorphism at each node, and gland-edged dorso-basal appendage on each stamen. The callose-thickened vesicular structures at the abaxial blade base where the primary veins diverge from one another may be domatia of some kind reminiscent of those also found in C. rodriguezii.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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