Miconia amplinodis Umaña & Almeda

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia amplinodis Umaña & 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, Umaña et al. 495 (CR!).

    Description: Shrub or tree 0.5-5 m tall with enlarged ± fleshy nodes at the point of petiolar attachment and along main inflorescence axis, essentially glabrous throughout. Leaves of a pair equal in size, the blades 5-nerved, elliptic, 8-11.7 x 3.3-5.7 cm, the apex short-acuminate, the base broadly acute to obtuse, the margin serrulate to entire; petioles 1.3-4.8 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 7-17 cm long; flowers 5-merous on glabrous pedicels 0.25-0.5 mm long; the deciduous bracteoles ovate, 1-2 x 0.75-1 mm. Calyx tube 0.2-0.25 mm long, the calyx lobes broadly rounded, 0.5 x 0.75 mm, the exterior calyx teeth bluntly triangular, ca. 0.1 x 0.5 mm, appressed to and shorter than the calyx lobes. Petals obovate to suborbicular and concave, 1.5-2 x 1-1.5 mm, white or greenish-white, glabrous. Anthers isomorphic, 1-1.4 mm long, pale green but red distally, cuneate, 4-celled with 4 ventrally inclined pores and a slightly protruding septum; connective somewhat thickened dorsally and prolonged abaxially the thecae 0.25 mm but unappendaged. Style glabrous, 3-3.5 mm long; stigma truncate; ovary 3-locular, completely inferior, apex elevated into a low deciduous glandular-puberulent lobulate collar 0.1 mm high that becomes ± rounded on mature fruits. Berry 3 x 3 mm when dry, reddish-purple when immature but turning white at maturity. Seeds ovoid, the testa papillate, 0.75-1 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Local in cloud forest, trail margins, pastures, and light gaps. 1100-2000 m. (Endemic). COSTA RICA (Almeda et al. 7367, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: The prominently enlarged nodal pad-like swellings, 4-locular anthers, greenish anther thecae with red tips, and papillate seed testa are distinctive and not readily confused with other taxa.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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