Brachyotum ecuadorense Wurdack
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Authority
Wurdack, John J. 1953. A revision of the genus Brachyotum (Tibouchineae-Melastomataceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (4): 343-407.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Trichomata minutissime sparseque papillata. Ramuli novelli obscure quadrangulati, cum petiolis pedicellisque dense brevi-strigulosi. Petiolus 1-3 mm. Lamina 4-7 x 2.5-5 mm. ovalis vel ovali-oblonga apice late acuta vel obtusa basi obtusa, nervis primariis 3 supra impressis subtus expressis, secundariis obsoletis; supra dense strigulosa, trichomatibus 7-8/mm.2 conicis 0.1-0.3 mm. diam. dimidio basali adhaerente apice libero per 0.2-0.5 mm.; subtus densissime strigulosa, setis conicis. Flores plerumque 5-meri, in ramulis brevibus adscendentibus solitarii. Pedicellus super folia ultima 2-5 ram., foliis ultimis (bracteis ?) persistentibus leviter extenuibus. Hypanthium 5.5-6.5x4-6 mm., medio 0.2 mm. crassum dense strigulosum setis curvo-conicis 15/mm.2 et 0.1-0.2 mm. diam. Sepala 5.5-6.5 x 3.5-4.5 mm. oblonga apice obtusa mucronata basi per 0.7-0.8 mm. cohaerentia, sinu anguste acuto. Petala 12-19 x 11-15 mm. obovata symmetrica apice truncata, ciliis non-glandulosis 0.1-0.2 mm. Filamenta 5.5-6 mm.; antherae 4.5-5.5 mm.; connectivum basi antherae 1.1-1.5 mm., ab anthera per 0.4-0.7 mm. liberum, lobis ventralibus 0.6-0.9 mm. Stylus 22-24 x 0.6 mm., per 3-10 mm. exsertus. Ovarium 6 x 3 mm. apice per 2 mm. dense strigulosum setis non-glandulosis, lobis apicalibus super loculos vix 0.1 mm.
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Discussion
Type Collection and Locality: Prieto P-307 (HOLOTYPE NY); Ecuador, Azuay-Oriente border, eastern Cordillera between Ona and no Yacuambi, crest, alt. 10000-11200 ft., 10-19 Sep. 1945. "Plant single-stemmed below, branched above, 0.5 m. Lvs deep green above. All parts of plant with minute processes. Floral bracts, hypanthium & sepal lobes red. Corolla tubular-urceolate in outline, nigrescent (by very strong transmitted light, petal color deep magenta-purple). Filaments deep rose-magenta, anthers sulfur-yellow." Known only from the type collection.
The closest relative of B. ecuadorense seems to be B. fictum. B. ecuadorense may be intermediate between this species and the poorly defined B. rosmarinifolium; the Peruvian species, however, differs in its ternate flowers, differently shaped petals with gland-tipped cilia, and glandular ovary hairs, as well as the more roughened pubescence. Only 2 of the 26 examinable flowers in the Prieto collection were 4-merous.