Clidemia utleyana Almeda

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia utleyana Almeda

  • 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, Almeda & Utley 2666 (CAS!)

    Description: Laxly branched erect to reclining terrestrial or epiphytic shrub mostly 0.5-1.5 m tall, the internodes and uppermost branchlets terete, moderately to copiously beset with smooth, eglandular, spreading hairs mostly 1-2 mm long like the inflorescence rachis. Leaves of a pair somewhat unequal in size, blades entire but conspicuously revolute, lance-ovate to ± cordate, 5-7-nerved, glabrous and bullate adaxially, the abaxial surface beset with a mixture of smooth spreading hairs and sessile glandular hairs largely confined to the elevated primary and secondary veins. Larger leaf at each node 4-10 x 1.5-4.5 cm; smaller leaf (2-) 3-6 x 1-4 cm. Inflorescence a terminal modified dichasium 1.5-2.5 cm long becoming pseudolateral with elongation of lateral branches; Flowers 5-merous on pedicels 0.5-1 mm long; bracteoles linear-lanceolate to subulate, persistent, 2-4 x 0.5 mm, beset with spreading simple hairs and sessile glandular-punctate hairs abaxially or essentially glabrous and then tipped with an apical hair. Hypanthia sparsely covered with smooth spreading hairs and a ground layer of scattered glandular-punctate hairs. Calyx lobes 1 x 1 mm, rounded-triangular, somewhat hyaline and obscured by the exterior teeth; calyx teeth lance-triangular to ± setiform 0.25-0.5 x 0.25 mm. Petals glabrous, dark red, ovate to narrowly obovate, minutely glandular-ciliolate, erect, connivent and concave adaxially at anthesis, 1.5-2 x 1-1.5 mm. Filaments glabrous, 1-1.5 x 0.5 mm, subulate; anthers 0.5 x 0.25 mm, pale yellow flushed with red along the connective dorsally and basally at the filament insertion, truncate apically with a ventrally inclined pore; connective thickened dorso-basally but not dilated or prolonged below the thecae. Ovary 3-locular, completely inferior, apex glabrous and 10-costate. Berry dark purple at maturity, 4-4.5 x 4-5 mm. Seeds 1 mm long, testa ± papillate on the broader distal end.

    Habitat and Distribution: Rare and local in cloud forests and ridgetop elfin vegetation, seepage areas, partially shaded vertical banks, and secondary thickets. 1090-1800 m. Also in Colombia. COSTA RICA (Croat 36084, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 7534, CAS);

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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