Bellucia beckii Renner

  • Authority

    Renner, Susanne S. 1989. Systematic studies in the Melastomataceae Bellucia, Loreya and Macairea. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 50: 1-112.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bellucia beckii S.S.Renner

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - A B. acutata ramulis villosis, foliis proportionaliter latioribus subtus sublanatis supra rugosis marginibus serrulatis, hypanthiis villosis vel sublanatis diflfert.

    Species Description - Shrub, 1-4 m high; twigs brown, sublanate, glabrescent. Leaves 16-18 x 8-11.5 cm, efliptic, shortly acute, rotundate at base, with inner pair of lateral primaries departing ca. 0.5 cm above the blade base, upper surface rugose, villose, glabrescent except on the central and lateral veins, lower surface villose to sublanate; petioles 1-1.5 cm long, villose. Cymes congested, in the axils of existing leaves, villose; pedicels ca. 0.5 cm long. Flowers 5-merous; hypanthium 5-6 mm long, villose to sublanate; calyx a calyptra, dehiscing irregularly, drying as a thin membrane, often persistent on the limb; petals 8-12 mm long, white; filaments 3-5 mm long, thecae ca. 5 mm long; ovary 9-locular; style 8-10 mm long. Fruit a greenish-yellow, loosely hirsute berry. Seeds ovoid, ca. 1 mm long, testa irregularly tuberculate.

  • Discussion

    Type: Bolivia. La Paz: Prov. Iturralde, Luisita, 13°5'S, 67°15'W, pampa alta con islitas de pequenos arboles, 3 km W de Luisita, via Puesto Porvenir, 180 m, 25 Feb 1984 (fl). Beck & Haase 10000 (holotype: US!; isotypes: LBP, US!).

    Bellucia beckii has characteristic leaves with a rugose upper surface and a softly pilose lower one and with serrulate margins; the twigs and hypanthia are covered with the same soft brown pubescence. The only other shrubby species of Bellucia with a calyptrate calyx, B. acutata, has smooth, glabrous leaves with entire margins. The berries of B. beckii are eaten by local people (R. Haase, pers. comm.).

  • Distribution

    Distribution and ecology (Fig. 8): Bellucia beckii occurs in savanna vegetation in northern Bolivia and in southern Mato Grosso and Para (Brazil).

    Brazil South America| Bolivia South America|