Miconia hexamera Wurdack
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Authority
Wurdack, John J. 1967. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. Camp. Melastomataceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 16: 1-45.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - M. radulae Cogn. affinis, sed floribus hexameris. Rami teretes sicut petioli inflorescentia hypanthiaque dense longo-setulosi pilis 0.7-1.1 mm longis modice minutissimeque barbellatis ad basim robustis persistentibus i. s. primum rufescentibus demum fuscis. Petioli 1-2.5 cm; 5-11 X 3-6.5 cm rígida dense ciliolata pilis incurvis ad basim conicis anguste ovata ápice acuto basi rotundata vel vix (ad 4 mm) cordata, 7-nervata pare interiore 3-5 mm supra basim inserto paris exterioribus basalaribus nervis secundariis ca. 3 mm inter se distantibus supra impressis subtus elevatis tertiariis subtus reticulatis areolis 0.6-1 mm latis plerumque in pilis occultis, supra dense bullís setiferis (seta 0.5-1 mm longa) ca. 1/mm2 obsita, subtus dense foveolata et densissime setulosa pilis laxis crispís gracilibus in nervis primariis basim versus vix expansis. Panicula 5-7 cm longa lataque; flores 6-meri sessiles vel vix (0.5 mm) pedicellati plerumque in dichasiis 3-5-aggregati, bracteis bracteolisque 2.53 X 0.5-0.7 mm ciliolatis valde caducis. Hypanthium (ad torum) 3 X 3.5 mm; calycis tubus 0.3 mm altus, lobis interioribus pellucidis 3 X 2.8-3 mm panduratis ápice rotundato extus et intus basim versus sparse strigulosis alioqui glabris, dentibus exterioribus 2 mm longis et ca. 1 mm liberis tuberculo-setulosis non eminentibus. Pétala 4—4.8 X 4.3-4.6 mm late obovata vel suborbicularia ápice vix emarginato intus minutissime granulosa extus glabra. Filamenta 2.5-3 mm longa modice glanduloso-puberula pilis 0.1-0.2 mm longis; antherarum thecae 2.6-2.8 X 0.8-1 X 1 mm oblongae ápice ventraiiter minute (0.3 mm diam.) uniporoso, connectivo basi non prolongato sed dorsaliter dente 0.3-0.5 mm longo hebeti descendente armato. Stylus 4.3-4.5 X 0.7 mm dense puberulus setulis gçacilibus caduce glanduliferis 0.2-0.3 mm longis; stigma expansum 1.5-1.6 mm diam.; ovarium 4-loculare omnino inferum ápice in conum 10-sulcatum 0.5 mm altum circum stylum protracto cono setulis 0.5-0.7 mm longis caduce glanduliferis 10 coronato.
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Discussion
Type Collection: IV. H. Camp E-5185 (holotype US 2404745; isotype NY; 5 additional isotypes to be distributed), collected in páramo and sub-páramo area north and northwest of the Páramo del Castillo (ca. 6-8 km n-ne. of Sevilla de Oro), Prov. Azuay, Ecuador, elev. 3000-3400 m, 31 Aug. 1945. “Trees to 4 m. Leaves scabrid, deep green above, pale-pubescent below; veins usually red. Hypanthium pale yellowish; calycine lobes petaloid, teeth deep green. Corolla rotate at anthesis, white. Filaments and anthers bright yellow.” Paratypes (all Azuay, elev. 2700-3350 m) : Páramo del Castillo, Camp E-718, Camp E-1637; eastern Cordillera 4-6 km north of Sevilla de Oro, Camp E-4706; Huagraracha, south of El Pan, Steyermark 53409 (NY) Although Cogniaux’ keys would, because of the 6-merous flowers, indicate placement of M. hexamera either at the end of sect. Amblyarrhena (spp. 408-409) or in sect. Octomens, its obvious close relatives are AI. r adula and M. suborbicularis Cogn. The former species has 5-merous obviously pedicellate flowers with calyx lobes only 0.7-1 mm long. Miconia sub orbicularis has differently shaped leaves and an esetulose ovary apex, but similar (albeit somewhat smaller) pellucid inner calyx lobes; the only material at hand (identified ex descr. and phot.) is Maguire & Maguire 44364 from near Zamora, which shows 6-merous flowers. Of the various examinable flowers in the collections of M. hexamera, 1 was 5-merous, 67 were 6-merous, and 11 were 7-merous.