Miconia pittieri Cogn.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia pittieri 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 2005 (BR!).

    Description: Shrub or small tree 1-6 m tall, the quadrate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, both leaf surfaces, inflorescence branches, hypanthia, and calyx teeth copiously covered with spreading smooth hairs 0.5-1 mm long. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size, the blade 5-13 x 3-8.5 cm, ovate to ovate-oblong, 5-nerved or if 5-7-plinerved then the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from the midvein 0.5-0.7 cm above the blade base, apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded or cordulate, the margin obscurely ciliate-denticulate; petioles 0.5-5.3 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 7-19 cm long; flowers 5-merous on pedicels 1 mm long; the bracteoles linear-subulate, 1 x 0.25 mm, deciduous, sparsely setose on the abaxial surface. Calyx tube ca. 0.2 mm long, the calyx lobes 0.5 x 0.75 mm, rounded-triangular, the exterior calyx teeth triangular-acuminate, 0.5 mm long, barely exceeding the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, obovate, 2 x 1-1.5 mm. Anthers isomorphic, white, 1.5 mm long, obovoid-oblong, the two apical pores ± ventrally inclined, connective elevated into a knobby appendage 0.2 mm high dorso-basally and prolonged ventro-basally abaxially the thecae into two lateral lobes 0.2 mm long. Style glabrous, 3-4 mm long; stigma capitate; ovary 3-locular, ½ inferior, apex elevated into a low collar (0.1 mm high) rimmed with erect smooth hairs 0.5 mm long. Berry blue to purple when mature, 3-4 x 3-4 mm when dry. Seeds narrowly ovoid, the testa vaguely granulate, 0.5 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in disturbed sites, pastures and stream banks in cloud forest. 1700-2960 m. COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 2200, CAS); PANAMA (Correa et al. 9840, CAS). (Endemic).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: Miconia pittieri is reminiscent of and has been confused with M. costaricensis. The latter has glandular puberulent (vs. glabrous) filaments, a basally puberulent (vs. glabrous) style, yellow (vs. white) anthers with a solitary dorsally inclined pore (vs. white anthers with two broad ventrally inclined pores), erose or ciliate (vs. entire) calyx lobes, and a smooth (vs. vaguely granulate) seed coat.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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