Miconia longibracteata Almeda

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia longibracteata 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, Wilbur & Stone 9845 (DUKE!).

    Description: Shrub 1-3 m tall, the obscurely quadrangular uppermost cauline internodes, inflorescence, bracteoles, and hypanthia glabrous. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size; blades 3-nerved, elliptic, elliptic-obovate or sometimes varying to suborbicular, (l.3-)2.5-4.2 X 1.1-2.8 cm, apex acuminate to acute, base acute to obtuse, the margin ciliate-serrulate (the trichomes mostly 0.5-1 mm long), glabrous at maturity but deciduously lepidote abaxially and glabrous to sparsely brown furfuraceous adaxially when young; petioles 7-l6(-27) mm long. Inflorescence a laxly branched, elongate panicle 3.5-8 cm long, exceeding foliage leaves borne at the node initiating the inflorescence; flowers 5-merous on pedicels (1)2-4 mm long; bracteoles foliaceous, deciduous following anthesis and mostly absent on the infructescence, linear-oblong to narrowly spatulate, 4-11(-18) X 0.5-3 mm. Calyx lobes (on fruiting hypanthia) persistent, semicircular but varying to ± deltoid, entire, 1-1.5 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide basally between sinuses; calyx teeth persistent, triangular, 0.5 mm long. Petals white to yellowish white, glabrous, suborbicular, 2-2.5 X 2 mm. Anthers isomorphic, about 0.5 mm long or less, white, ± cuneate, 2-celled, flared distally and terminated by a broad, ± ovoid, ventrally inclined pore; connective markedly thickened and prolonged (0.5 x 0.5 mm) abaxially thecae, dilated dorsally into a blunt knobby protuberance. Style glabrous, 2-2.5 mm long; stigma ± clavate; ovary 3-locular, completely inferior. Berry deep purple to purple-black at maturity, 3.5-5 X 3-4(-5) mm. Seeds ± pyriform, the testa obscurely muriculate, mostly 1 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Uncommon in cloud forest. 1500-3000 m. COSTA RICA (Grayum 7314, CAS). (Endemic).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: Staminal posture and morphology are best observed in pickled or boiled material. The short, compressed, anther thecae terminate in a broad apical pore; the connective which is conspicuously thickened and prolonged below the thecae is narrowly triangular in ventral view, knobby and somewhat angulate in profile view, and ± horseshoe-shaped in dorsal view. This distinctive anther morphol¬ogy appears to represent an extreme in the evolutionary line that has led to great reduction in anther size. The very broad apical pores and pronounced geniculation of the filaments consistently bring anthers to an incurved position within the flower and may contribute to prevalent self-pollination.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.