Clidemia matudae L.O.Williams

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia matudae L.O.Williams

  • 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: Mexico, Matuda 15945 (F!).

    Description: Diffusely branched shrub 1-3.5 m tall, the terete upper internodes, inflorescence axis and petioles densely pubescent with a mixture of stalked-stellate, branched or barbed hairs and spreading smooth or glandular hairs up to 1 mm long. Leaves of a pair commonly unequal in size, ovate-cordate, apex acuminate, base rounded to cordate, the margin coarsely but obscurely denticulate, 7-9-plinerved with the innermost pair of primaries diverging from the midvein 0.5-1 cm above the blade base, the adaxial surface glabrous to sparingly beset with smooth (sometimes gland-tipped hairs) to 1 mm long, often with stalked-stellate and barbed or branched hairs along the impressed midvein toward the blade base, the abaxial surface copiously puberulent throughout with soft smooth spreading hairs 0.25-0.5 mm long and a scattering of smooth spreading gland-tipped hairs on the elevated primary veins; larger blade at each node 12.5-25.5 x 7.3-17.5 cm; smaller blade 5.3-18.5 x 3.2-11.5 cm. Inflorescence a pseudolateral laxly branched racemiform dichasium 4-20 cm long; flowers 6-7-merous (and pleiostemonous) on pedicels 3-6(-8) mm long, the persistent subulate to narrowly triangular bracts and bracteoles 1-2 x 0.25-0.5 mm with an indument like the hypanthium. Hypanthia moderately to densely beset with sessile stellate hairs sometimes intermixed with a scattering of spreading smooth gland-tipped hairs. Calyx lobes 0.5-1.5 mm long, broadly rounded to flattened-triangular (when in fruit), glabrous; exterior calyx teeth subulate, 3-4 mm long. Petals glabrous, white, oblong-obovate, 5.5-7.5 x 4 mm. Filaments 4 mm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm long, white?, the apical pore ventrally inclined; connective thickened dorsally but neither prolonged nor appendaged. Ovary 7-locular, completely inferior, apex flat and glabrous; berry purple when ripe, 7 x 7 mm when dry. Seeds 0.5 mm long, the testa obscurely granulate.

    Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in wet pine-oak forests and forest margins. 1100-2300 m. Also in southern and western Mexico (Guerrero, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Oaxaca). MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 56951, CAS); GUATEMALA (Aguilar 304, F); EL SALVADOR (Molina & Molina 12583, US).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: This species is unusual in having large ovate-cordate leaves and 6-7-merous pleiostemonous flowers. Few species of Clidemia have flowers with unequal numbers or proportions of homologous floral parts. In C. matudae each flower typically has anywhere from 30-35 stamens.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.