Leandra melanodesma (Naudin) 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.

    Description: Shrub 1-3(-5) m, the rounded young branchlets, petioles, and inflorescences copiously covered with barbellate and/or plumose hairs surpassed by projecting smooth hairs 1-2 mm long that are often basally barbed or roughened. Leaves 6.5-19 X 2-9.5 cm, elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5-7-nerved or obscurely plinerved with the innermost pair of primary veins diverging up to 1 cm above base of blade, base obtuse to rounded or cordulate, apex acute to acuminate, the margin obscurely crenulate-serrulate and appressed ciliolate, adaxial surface somewhat bullate and sparsely and deciduously strigose or hispidulous, abaxial surface sparsely hirsute with curved or straight simple hairs and a very sparse to moderate admixture of stellate or pinoid hairs largely restricted to the primary and secondary veins. Panicle 5-15(-25) cm long, multiflorous; flowers 5-merous, subsessile or with pedicels to 0.25 mm and secund on the divergent branchlets; the subulate persistent bracteoles 1 mm long. Hypanthium (at anthesis) 1.75-2.5 mm long to the glabrous torus, moderately stellulate-puberulent with a sparse admixture of simple spreading hairs; calyx lobes depressed triangular, 0.25 mm long that are equaled by the subulate teeth. Petals white, inconspicuously granulose, 2-2.5 X 1-2 mm. Filaments 1.75-2 mm long; anther sacs yellow 1.5-1.75 mm long; connective simple, the pore truncate to ventrally inclined. Ovary 3-celled, 1/2 inferior, the short apical collar ciliate; berry 4-5 mm in diameter, purple when ripe. Seeds 0.5 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Cloud forest margins, disturbed roadsides, cultivated fields. 1300-3250 m. (S. Mexico and Colombia.) MEXICO: Chiapas (Breedlove & Almeda 58227, CAS); GUATEMALA (Standley & Williams 1963:456-457); HONDURAS (Williams et al. 23280, CAS); COSTA RICA (Almeda 2729, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda & Nakai 3518, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: When type material of Leandra glandulosa S. Winkl. is located, it should be compared with L. melanodesma. The protologue (Winkler 1965:351) of the former and accompanying keys suggest that it may well be a minor variant of the latter.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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